“Letter to my Parents- Straight from heart”

Dear Mom & Dad,

There are so many things I'd like to tell you both face to face. I have been thinking for a while but never said with you both, I either lack the words or fail to find the time or place. I would like to share few things right from my heart through this post. You'll find, at least in part, the feelings that the passing years have left in my heart. The memories of childhood days and all that you have done to make our home a happy place and growing up such fun.

You both are my first role models, knowingly or un-knowingly many traits I have inhibited from you both. Would like to share few of the many things which I have learned.

Respect to elders : I think I was around 6-7 years when this happened, which was still in my mind as it was happened recently. One day 2-3 elders came to our house for normal visit, when they came, you asked me to wish them hello by folding hands, I said I will not wish and I went inside , you came inside and given me a tight slap ( That was the first and last time you have beaten me) and strictly warned me not to repeat and advised me to respect elders. I used to wish elders from then even though un-willingly it is after few years I have realized the importance of that and I can proudly say that I have never shown disrespect to elders at any point of time in my career till now.

Value of money : You started giving me and brother pocket money even when we were kids . Used to give us only when we have done some work. You asked us to work in the garden of our well wishers or work in our shop when ever there is free time or holidays. The best part is when we used to work in the shop, you have never treated both of us as your sons in work place, treated equally along with other workers. You have taught us the importance of money.

Holistic Development : You have never put pressure on us and made us keep our feet firmly on the ground and move around, never pushed us to study hard . You are strict at the same way given lot of freedom. I used to grumble when you used to say to mom that we have to wash our own clothes and clean our rooms at least once in a week. I used to not understand and grumble at that point of time. I remember you have encouraged me many times to learn at least one musical instrument and you have purchased and brought them to home, but still did not care much at that time. When I see anyone who plays any musical instrument now a days, I feel bad for not listening to you at that time. You have requested many times to learn 4 wheeler driving, but I have never tried saying when we will get chance to buy a 4 wheeler? After 15 years I have learnt but still I am not perfect. The list goes on if I start writing this type of incidents. During those days only you have encouraged us to have holistic development. It took many years for me to realize all these things. I can confidently say that even well educated present generation parents may not bring up their children the way you both have brought us up.

Helping Nature : You have taught us right from childhood to give to the needy in which ever way you can. Dad I still remember one incident where you called me one day and asked me whether I can help one leprosy patient for his eye operation, I have given that amount and was happy as I can help that patient, but I was totally moved when I came to know that as that patient was not having anyone in this world , you have taken him personally to other city and you were there with him for two days and brought him back after the operation was successful. Generally people suffering from leprosy are often ostracized by society,but being with them personally and helping is far better than just giving. Dad, I assure that I will help in what ever way I can to the needy ( I may not be able to do like you, but I will try ).

Mom , you are the sweeeeetest person I have ever met, the amount of patience you have is un imaginable. I am not even having 5 % of what you have ( I can proudly say that if I compare with friends or colleagues I am equal or better but ). I know that you have faced lot of problems when dad used to be on and off from hospitals and at home, but you have never shared those problems or burdens with both of us thinking that we may feel bad and it may affect us. We are grown up now , you can share with us everything. We may not call daily like other kids to their parents but we love you a lot.

Dad, you are highly inspirational to the present generation . At the age of 56 you have joined degree course and decided to sit in the classrooms along with the kids of age 18-20 . Best part is it is not just you applied you were preparing hard for exams and entered 3^rd year.

We are in this position only because of you both. You both and brother are highly instrumental in shaping up my life... Would like to thank God for giving such a wonderful parents and brother. A big salute to you three.

Guys most of you must be having similar experiences like these, but now a days I feel sad when we listen that children are leaving their parents and not taking care of them.

Guys parents are our role models, please give respect to them , take care of them , don't ever neglect them, keep them happy, show love and gratitude and try to make them proud....

With love,

Your son

Take a Break

Friends I would like to share my thoughts about my recent visit to my mom's home town and a village where we used to go during our summer holidays.

Now a days life became so fast, so busy, and so pressured that, for many, it became stressful depriving us of pleasure. Stress is becoming an assumption of modern life and can lead to anxiety and depression. Work communication became so rapid that there is too little time for thinking. Instant information transfer began to substitute for complex communication with others and with ourselves. Does it have to remain that way? Our answer CAN be “No”.

Whether you work outside the home or in it, chances are good that you could occasionally use a break from your schedule. Call it a personal day or a mental health day. Either way, it means that for one golden day, you let go of your usual responsibilities and embrace just being you. Take a break from your busy schedules.

Banish the Cell Phone and Don’t Check Email

Most people carry cell phones like they are another bodily appendage. For this one day, you’re not going to obsessively check your phone. You can keep it in your purse or a pocket just in case of emergency. However, try to resist the temptation to constantly check for emails, text messages, social networking sites, as these things can quickly take you out of your relaxed state of mind.

With a personal day, you can rediscover some of the things that make life worth living. You’ll take the time to notice how green the grass is or appreciate the beauty of the nature and relive the past memories.

Taking a break does not mean that you need to go to famous tourist spots or out of country , just visit your home town or the places where you were grown up, visit your school or just do what you like.

Last month when I went to home town I decided to take one day off and go to the villages where I grew up and used to have lot of fun during vacations.

Me along with my cousins decided to go on a bike. At first we went to a village where we used to spend our summer vacations. It was almost like I was visiting a old movie set

where all childhood innocent days came in to my mind. We visited farm land first, have seen Mirchi, Maize and Paddy fields. Spent almost an hour in those fields , even though it was so hot that day, we did not feel the heat at all as we were enjoying by discussing about our child hood incidents.

Had yummy Desi chicken in our relatives house and moved to one more village which is my mother's home town. On the way to that village we had Goli soda ( Which is seen very rarely now a days ) which we used to have almost daily during child hood days. We first went to a lake which is out side the village where during child hood we used to get scoldings and beatings from elders for entering into the lakes. Spent some time over there by playing in water with stones.

After that we went into the forest. During child hood days we used just go to just short distance as elders used to frighten us by saying wild animals will be there :) but this time we traveled more distance did trekking for almost an hour and spent some time in the Mango fields and near a small lake which is running in between the fields and hills. As it was getting dark in the evening we have started back :( and on the way back in outskirts of one village , we had seen Geetha ice cream ( which used to be very famous 15-20 years back. We used to have for 25paise and 50 paise now

it is of 5 Rs :) , best part is having it standing in front of fields where there was cool breeze during evening time. As there was no lights for my 2 wheeler have to head back as it was getting darker :(

These were only a few of the memories that I had on my visit to parents home town. There are so many more, and I cherish all of them, and I often wish that I could go back and do it all over again. And I will – on my next visit to my hometown.

Seeing the places we used to go invokes up bittersweet memories – sweet because the days that were, bitter because of the days that’ll never be again.

I bet most of you guys will be having similar type of experiences !!! Take a break an arrange a visit with family or friends , it will definitely rejuvenates us and be very active while we rejoin our busy hectic life.