Turning 25

In close to four years of blogging; I’ve never really felt the need to blog about my Birthday. Until now, they were all relatively small numbers, there were other things to write about. But 25 is a big intimidating number. It means, I’ve been around Planet Earth for a Quarter Century now and officially enter the famous or rather infamous Quarter Life Crisis.

There is an overwhelming need to pen down my feelings on what it feels like to turn 25. A million questions loom ahead of me; I have to face them all, but there is no compelling need to accept them all in my folds. I have learnt to let go of a few and focus on what really matters to me.  25yrs is a quite a long time; in the course of this long arduous yet enriching journey – there have been moments which have taken my breath away, brought me back to earth with a thud, realize the value of relationships and people involved.

I’ve watched things go awry, over analysed incidents, wasted a lot of precious time on post mortems, wasted copious tears on people who hardly mattered and incidents that were beyond my control. All these left me sapped of happiness and contentment.  Alongside all this – I’ve spent time with people who mean the world to me, learnt life’s valuable lessons under their watchful eyes, succeeded in my attempts and watched them succeed too. I’ve learnt that happiness lies in making the best of what you have and the best lessons amongst all these have been – working on my strengths, diversifying my interests, and most importantly accepting me for what I am.

I was hoping a couple of my close friends would come up with something like 25-Awesome-Things-About-You sort of list. Since that hasn’t happened, I decided to take in a moment of perspective and thank the people who’ve left indelible marks in these 25 years.

To my teachers and professors from school and college, for loading my brains with knowledge unlimited and helping me grow as an individual. Thank you for being encouraging at all times and especially during PTA meetings, thank you for not letting my folks know how notorious and talkative I was.  Special thanks to Kumar Sir for being more than just a Professor, for being that Father figure and a very prominent guiding force. I will forever be indebted to you for adding that Sanity Filter into my head.

To Soms and Neesu for being besties for over 12yrs now! That’s an achievement ok? We’ve been partners in crime growning up, goofed up, stuck to each other after years of school, have had the best times. We also learnt to accept each other for what we are. I can’t thank you girls enough for all that you’ve been all along. You girls are truly God-Awesome and you know the rest of the story. Love you two to bits!

To Neelu for being an awesome Didi-Jaan, you’ve made me realize what it means to have an older sister, when my cousins were in faraway land. Special thanks for introducing me to Makeup, Amma thinks you are too innocent to have caused colossal damage on my makeup spending.

To AM for being my lost-Twin-Sister from Gujju Land. I still can’t believe we’ve never met each other and have still managed to stay in sync with each other’s sensibilities. Jai-ho to our sense of humor, grammar policing and telepathy! Oh btw, you are the best Grammar Police ever.

To Gitu for being what the SoMCA guys christened us – Soul mate! I must thank you for adding an extra character to my collage. We must stay in touch more often. You made SoMCA more livable and helped me bring forth my potential. Thanks a Bunch Woman!

To D for being the blood hound who can smell trouble and be the shrink whenever applicable. I admire your ability to call a spade a spade and it really helps because I know what you say is for my good.

To the bestest brother – Adi for just being there when it really matters, for being that pillar of strength and support when I should be the sensible one. I’m bloody proud of you for what you are. I get all emotional when you actually speak up for me. I still can’t believe you are all grown up now.

I wouldn’t be sitting here in the dead of the night penning this down without this Woman.

To Amma for being the best role model any girl can ask for. I will forever be in awe of how you’ve managed to garner love, respect and trust from people whom you’ve met in these years. You have brought us up with the best values and given us freedom to spread our wings. You’ve moulded me into what I am today. You’ve instilled confidence when I’ve been down in the dumps, brought me back to my senses when I strayed.  I really don’t know if I will ever be able to emulate you as a mother or a daughter in the years to come.  To me you are the epitome of Goodness.

To Appa for being that role model. You are one man whom I truly respect. Sometimes, I guess it's a little more fear than respect. I know I've fallen short of your expects many a times, but am thankful that you've taken it in your stride. I can only yearn to be the perfectionist you are.

To the Corporate World for turning the once uncomplicated, happy and cherubic soul into this insensitive woman with a good layer of thick epidermis. You have flawlessly executed the act of mercilessly slaughtering my confidence, puncturing my motivation and left me with no zest for living. Your exemplary behavior in terms of Public Display of Emotion where you wanted me strung and quartered for a second made me feel that the aforementioned woman should have aborted me instead.

But that was just for a second, I have realized how important it is to maintain dignity and composure at work.  All those people who grouped themselves together cemented my beliefs even more. I wholeheartedly thank you guys for clearing the cobwebs in my head.  Since then I’ve been absorbing every activity with a teaspoon of salt. 

You guys deserve the credit for helping me rebuild myself from those little shreds on the floor. I have learnt that there is no greater joy than recouping yourself to brace something a million times better. I will leave a blazing trail when the right time arrives.

To Shillu and Ramya for being the *first friends* I made in the hard-nosed corporate world! You girls are examples that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

To the Women who are no-more – Meenamma and Jaya Paati for being the best story tellers and nurturers.

Finally, to God, for bestowing me with so much goodness and happiness.  I totally understand that these trying moments in my life are to make me better and emerge stronger.

Peace Out