To her!
My first memories are of being with you.Of being woken up early in the morning by your warm endearments and piping hot coffee.Of sitting in your clinic watching the myriad people who walked in and out.Of being read my favorite stories on countless afternoons.You were the first person I loved.When all the world was a stranger;you were the only familiar person.Those were the days when everything was intuitive.I loved you blindly,I didn't question it;nor did I think about why.
Slowly,as we grow up, we come to terms with the real world.We face what is called disillusionment.Our glorious dreams clash with reality and we're left with the shattered smithereens and a vague memory of times when things were perfect.
So it is with people.We realise that they aren't perfect.We still love them,but we don't like them a lot.One of my favorite authors refers to this as the 'tyranny of love'.Love is unconditional,liking isn't.And so,we end up loving the people in our lives despite their flaws,but we don't like them a lot.
There are a few exceptions.Rarest of the rare.These people don't fall in your opinion.They just grow.You are one such person.I look at you and I'm filled with awe.I've always believed that logic is the superior sibling of emotion,but I look at you and realise how important emotions are.I judge people based on their actions,while you delve into the emotion behind the action.No wonder forgiveness comes so naturally to you!
You interact with a hundred people a day.And each one goes away feeling happier.A little lighter.I've felt the same.I don't know what it is that you do.I talk to you after a miserable day,and somehow it seems to get better.I'm sick and I come to you;you tell me that I'll be fine and I believe you.You're like sunshine,you brighten up every place you go!
I've always been a bad daughter.I've never helped you.Never woken up early.Never taken care of the household chores.You slog from 5am to 11pm,while I wake up at 7 and not bother about a thing.I've mocked you for various things while you took it sportively and laughed with me.I've never consoled you while you cried,simply because I didn't know how to.I've never thanked you.Never told you how much I love you.
You're humble enough to assume that you don't mean much to me.Naive enough to assume that I don't care.That I never console you because your tears don't matter to me.That I mock you because I think you're stupid.And I let you assume all that.Coz the alternative means telling you all this--I'm sure you wouldn't believe it.Not to mention I have no clue how to go about saying any of this.
I'm here today,all of 22,staying alone.I have good food,clothing,shelter,internet and everything else I had at home.Yet,there are days when I feel incredibly sad--or "homesick" as is the term.I wonder what it is that I miss most about home! And the answer is instantaneous.It's you.I miss eating your food.I miss waking up and seeing you.I miss ending my day talking to you.I miss your laughter.Your twinkling eyes--eyes that always were full of love,compassion,forgiveness and concern.
You turn 60 today,and I wish with all my heart that I could be with you.Que sera sera.
You won't read this,I know.It will remain unsaid.Nevertheless,I write.
I'm scared that one day karma will catch up with me.That I won't be able to make up for all the mistakes I've made with you.That fear makes me resolve to be a better daughter.I don't know if I will,but I can at least try.
I know you have endured a lot of suffering(ironically that has made you even better).I wish that hereafter,you find happiness.I know it's pointless to wish for no sorrow,so instead I wish that you find serenity--peace amidst all your problems.You named me serenity and I promise to bring you that.
I hope you're always there with me.That the best is yet to come.
Happy Birthday! :) I haven't found a better person in the whole world. Not exaggerating!
Slowly,as we grow up, we come to terms with the real world.We face what is called disillusionment.Our glorious dreams clash with reality and we're left with the shattered smithereens and a vague memory of times when things were perfect.
So it is with people.We realise that they aren't perfect.We still love them,but we don't like them a lot.One of my favorite authors refers to this as the 'tyranny of love'.Love is unconditional,liking isn't.And so,we end up loving the people in our lives despite their flaws,but we don't like them a lot.
There are a few exceptions.Rarest of the rare.These people don't fall in your opinion.They just grow.You are one such person.I look at you and I'm filled with awe.I've always believed that logic is the superior sibling of emotion,but I look at you and realise how important emotions are.I judge people based on their actions,while you delve into the emotion behind the action.No wonder forgiveness comes so naturally to you!
You interact with a hundred people a day.And each one goes away feeling happier.A little lighter.I've felt the same.I don't know what it is that you do.I talk to you after a miserable day,and somehow it seems to get better.I'm sick and I come to you;you tell me that I'll be fine and I believe you.You're like sunshine,you brighten up every place you go!
I've always been a bad daughter.I've never helped you.Never woken up early.Never taken care of the household chores.You slog from 5am to 11pm,while I wake up at 7 and not bother about a thing.I've mocked you for various things while you took it sportively and laughed with me.I've never consoled you while you cried,simply because I didn't know how to.I've never thanked you.Never told you how much I love you.
You're humble enough to assume that you don't mean much to me.Naive enough to assume that I don't care.That I never console you because your tears don't matter to me.That I mock you because I think you're stupid.And I let you assume all that.Coz the alternative means telling you all this--I'm sure you wouldn't believe it.Not to mention I have no clue how to go about saying any of this.
I'm here today,all of 22,staying alone.I have good food,clothing,shelter,internet and everything else I had at home.Yet,there are days when I feel incredibly sad--or "homesick" as is the term.I wonder what it is that I miss most about home! And the answer is instantaneous.It's you.I miss eating your food.I miss waking up and seeing you.I miss ending my day talking to you.I miss your laughter.Your twinkling eyes--eyes that always were full of love,compassion,forgiveness and concern.
You turn 60 today,and I wish with all my heart that I could be with you.Que sera sera.
You won't read this,I know.It will remain unsaid.Nevertheless,I write.
I'm scared that one day karma will catch up with me.That I won't be able to make up for all the mistakes I've made with you.That fear makes me resolve to be a better daughter.I don't know if I will,but I can at least try.
I know you have endured a lot of suffering(ironically that has made you even better).I wish that hereafter,you find happiness.I know it's pointless to wish for no sorrow,so instead I wish that you find serenity--peace amidst all your problems.You named me serenity and I promise to bring you that.
I hope you're always there with me.That the best is yet to come.
Happy Birthday! :) I haven't found a better person in the whole world. Not exaggerating!
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