It's Worth a Wait

Pujas bring back memories of waiting.
Waiting for our set of new clothes.
We never had as many as our dear bengali neighbors- ma said we also get new clothes for Bihu so....
And then we would go to Tinsukia- the shopping hub- or Dibrugarh- my grand mom's place- and buy our allotted two dresses.
The wait was so worth it. The trials, the last minute tucking ins if required, the new shoes to go with it.

Same with our birthdays. Once we left Digboi and moved to the citylife of Guwahati, birthdays meant a special treat in a restaurant. We would spend weeks planning where to go. Chinese? Mughlai?
The specialness would make the wait worth it.

There was no concept of weekend getaways or short breaks.
Holidays meant proper planning for that one trip my father planned.
There was frenzied cost cutting at home before and after the trip.

Even simple food treats were about waiting- that Cadbury's bar, the canned tin of fruit cocktail from Club Store, chicken cutlets from Mouchak Sweets in Guwahati and the Chicket patties from Exotic Bakery.....

Today, thanks to both technology and affordability, things come to us at the drop of a hat, or plastic.
I ordered a churidar set for my daughter last evening- was delivered to office this morning.
Chocolate is a snack not a treat.
Holidays are simply "breaks".

We email. No more waiting for the letters  and the postman.
We call and Skype. No more quarterly visits home to mum and dad. After all, we are in touch, right?
We download a movie and watch it at home- why plan and go with our popcorn regularly to the nearby theatre?
We don't even wait with bated breath for that favourite TV program. We just record it. And watch it at our won leisure time.

In all of this, the great thing is that we just don't need to wait.
Time is at a premium.

But sometimes I miss the wait.
Waiting made me anticipate.
Waiting made the experience more precious.
Waiting was part of the journey of thrill and excitement.

Maybe sometimes, it is still worth the wait.

A lesson on love

Life has taught me many lessons.

Some good. Some not so good.

But some of the most humbling lessons Life has taught me have been from unexpected sources.

People. Situations. Could be anything.Or anybody.

Even my six year old girl.

Over the past two years, my daughter has shown me that love is truly unconditional.

No questions asked. Ever. 

There are times when I see her little face fall when I am kissing her good bye.

Could be for a trip. Or a dinner out.

But the fall is quickly replaced by a strong smile and loving words- "Come back soon Mamma".

Never once has she asked me not to go.

Not once do I remember her tugging me, asking me to take her along as well.

So yesterday morning, over a quiet breakfast both of us were having together, I asked her whether there were times she felt bad when I was not with her.

I also armed myself with excuses and explanations before she could reply. 

Office, work, friends etc etc.

She just looked at me and said, " No Mamma. I love you and that's why when you are happy I never feel sad. I feel sad when I see you sad Mamma....."

In those few seconds, I was humbled.

She gave me freedom , in spite of feeling left out, because she loved me.

And loving means seeing someone happy.

Even if it comes at some cost.

Loving means no questions asked. You trust that person enough to know that no action can go against you.

You love that person so much that you never dream of him or her having any wrong intent, even though some actions may momentarily seem so.

As we walked home together with our bread and flowers after breakfast, I realised once again, that angels speak to us all the time.

Giving us lessons on Life and Love.

We just need to hear.

And learn.

The small things that make a big relationship

Somehow this is quite credible when it comes to life.

Our relationships with our life partners. Boyfriends, husbands, friends, parents.
Little things we do make a big difference.

The good morning kiss.
The won't-go-to-bed-over-a-fight.
The impromptu lunch.
The missed call that is meant to say "I love you".
The surprise visit home on Mom's birthday.
Staying overnight at a friend's place when she is low.

Playing the music she likes.
Cooking the meal he loves.

But somehow, why do we not use these same principles at work as well?
In our work relationships?

Is it only about that one big idea presentation for a client?
Or the annual CEO lunch?
The portfolio of effective and awarded campaigns?

Or is it also about that extra mile we go?
The little everyday touch.
Could be a proactive idea that helped an internal presentation.
An initiative that was not in the scope of work.
A call to check on a partner who is unwell.
A birthday wish.
Sharing a coffee and discussing niggling issues.

Just a call at times to say Hello.

This has always worked.
After all, we are not different people at work.
And all these little things add up.

Sometimes much more than just that big idea.