My Grandmother was undeniably #madeofgreat
It is true we meet people throughout our lives, people who make an impact on us and shape us into who we are. But there's always one person who tops the list and for me, that place is shared by my Grandmother and my Mother.
In spite of facing hardships in their lives, they both had this amazing quality - seeing the world through eyes of kindness and positivity. No matter what hurdles life presented, they always saw the silver lining, the goodness in every situation. From these power women who raised me, I learned many things - not all at once, but slowly and steadily.
My Grandmother taught me these valuable life lessons, and my Mother led by example for as long as she lived.
If I have nothing nice to say, say nothing
Words can hurt or heal. My Grandmother taught me to focus on healing, not hurting. Even when she had strong feelings about something, if she felt that the feelings of the person she was addressing would be hurt, she chose to stay quiet. There is peace in being considerate, for sure. It is all very well to be outspoken, but not at the cost of bringing tears to someone's eyes.
To see solutions, not problems
Life will always bring tough times and how we choose to respond will determine our happiness levels. We can opt to make the most of these situations, learn from them and move on, or we can wallow in self pity. My Grandmom taught me to make the right choices, because, people, happiness is a DIY project.
To always speak the language of kindness
My Grandmother was the epitome of kindness. No one ever left our door without receiving what they came for. She did what she could for her community and changed lives. She took family members under her wing, inviting them to stay with us when they wanted to make their careers in the city we lived in. When someone was pregnant in the neighborhood, she took them in her care, looking after them for as long as three months until they could look after their own baby. She took in the children in our colony when their parents had to go out of town or just go out and needed someone reliable to keep an eye on them. I remember one of our neighbors left her three month old baby with my Grandma - when she had to return to work and my Grandma happily looked after the baby as well as her older children when they returned from school. When the washerwoman in our area needed someone to babysit her toddler, my Grandma stepped in. Major event in the locality? Guess who went to cook!
Today, I try my best to follow in her footsteps by doing what I can for those whose lives I touch.
To practice generosity
Giving is a tradition in our house. My Grandma made it a point to carry something with her each time she stepped out so she could give it away, a practice my Mom continued for as long as she lived. Today, I do the same - I also maintain a big "Giveaway" box. We always always have something to give. This winter, I am distributing warm clothes and blankets to the homeless in my neighborhood.
To be brave enough to believe in myself
This gave me the courage to quit a well paying secure job and prioritize, at the right time in my life, so I could be there for my family. Today I have no regrets because I took the step forward, listening to my heart. At various times in my life, I've had the confidence to take risks that turned out to be the right decision. No pain, no gain!
To be tolerant
My Grandmother was pious and followed her beliefs. But she never forced them on anyone else, believing that each one of us has the right to our own opinions. For someone who was married at 3, and was the matriarch of the family until she passed away on her birthday at 84 and stood firm by her principles, she encouraged everyone to practice tolerance and respect for others' feelings.
I could go on and on.
It is wonderful how one human being an make such a positive difference in another's life. I am so glad I had my angels, my mentors in my own family and had the privilege of growing up with them.
♥
This is my entry for the #madeofgreat campaign The #madeofgreat campaign is the first time Tata Motors is undertaking an overall brand association campaign with a brand ambassador. It rides on a strong consumer motivation of 'Seeking Excellence' and 'Self Belief' which is showcased by the confluence of two global brands-Tata Motors and Lionel Messi. The campaign builds upon Tata Motors' DNA of trust, authenticity, reliability, simplicity, as well as its commitment to innovation. Lionel Messi is talent galore with conviction and is an icon for today's youth. He is a winner who is trustworthy, reliable, pioneering, simple and driven by self-belief, which is what is at the core of Tata Motors as well. Thus, proving to be an ideal fit for the role of Global Brand Ambassador.♥
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