SOME MIRACLES ARE JUST GOOD PEOPLE.. with kind hearts!!

As a little girl growing up Daddy always tried to teach me about “the value of money”.. and this was done in various creative ways! Tidiness and neatness were rewarded with pocket money.. I was encouraged to go “door to door” (only in the building) to collect donations for the NAB Lions Home for the Blind (a form was given from school) and when I professed a desire for a pair of “Roman lace up sandals” the money was collected by doing (once again) door to door market research for some washing powder! Persevering in spite of a number or slammed doors and rude people, it was a real thrill to collect the princely sum of Rs.70 to buy my first  very OWN pair of sandals with my very OWN MONEY!!

I was pampered in terms of permissions and friends and going out but kept on a very tight budget.. and remember my mother’s words so clearly “When you start earning your own money.. you can spend it however you like but until then.. you will have t do as we say and decide”.. and that made me want to really hurry up and start earning my own money!

Daddy used to travel abroad a great deal on work.. and by the time I was in senior school I wanted “branded” jeans.. and the only “brands” back then were Wranglers and Levis! He went to Hong Kong and brought me 10 pairs of jeans.. ONE pair of genuine “branded” Wranglers and the rest “wannabe” pairs from Stanley Market which was an absolute haven for “branded” copies back then! I was happy and he was even happier because the he bought the other 9 pairs for a song!

Daddy always liked being the “cool Dad” and managed to find reasonable and acceptable ways of indulging me without saying too many “Nos” and without spoiling me outrageously at the same time! He was earning a comfortable salary and we lived well but he always discouraged me from buying “branded” clothes saying I didn’t NEED them.. However he always insisted on buying good quality footwear because that was a health concern! Totally reasonable and acceptable by any and all standards? Absolutely!

As I was growing up, he told me one day that when my personal wealth reached a certain figure (which he never disclosed to me!) he would allow me to fly “Business Class” and the day THAT happened it was really exciting! That was also the first trip when he gave me a more generous allowance of spending money and said I could buy myself a “branded” watch.. explaining to me that since I was going to London I should claim the VAT Tax-free refund.. and also that since I wore a watch everyday it was an “investment”!

Time went by and I started becoming a discerning shopper and decided to invest in only top branded bags and watches because they would last and were genuinely “value for money”.. In keeping with my new beliefs I bought myself a Cartier Tank watch on my 60^th birthday and was very pleased with myself! I wore it every single day and really loved the watch! And then.. for no particular reason.. one fine day.. it just stopped working!

I took it back to the company I had bought it from.. they checked it and said the battery had failed and would need to be replaced.. The battery had to come from France so I waited patiently for 3 weeks! All was well for another six months or so when it unaccountable stopped again! This time they told me the watch had gotten “demagnetized” so another 3 weeks to fix it! A couple of months went by and two tiny pins fell out of the strap and the watch was perching precariously on my wrist.. Thanks to the house renovation.. shifting and my own carelessness (it must be admitted) the spare links were not to be found so yet another 3 weeks at the workshop!

When it stopped working again a couple of weeks ago I took it to the workshop and gave the team a piece of my mind.. told them I had been given the equivalent of a “lemon” and that it was shameful that a Cartier had to be fixed FOUR times within just two years of purchase.. and if the brand had ANY integrity and concern for their reputation they should give me a replacement!

And THIS is where the miracle called Mr. Karan Vaidya came into my life.. he heard my litany woes and rants patiently.. agreed with me.. took up this matter with the brand.. fought for me.. negotiated for me.. and this evening.. happily handed over to me a spanking brand new Cartier Tank watch.. exactly identical to the one I had bought in 2023!

It is always refreshing and reassuring to meet people who do what they do with passion and integrity and I have been truly blessed to meet this extremely charming personable and thoroughly professional young man! I hope to be able to share this blog with him via email.. and thank him once again for being such a rockstar and amazingly helpful person! Don’t think I will ever be able to wear my watch without thinking of him and blessing him! He has truly been my miracle of a good person with a kind heart! God bless you Karan!

Thank you as always for reading and please write your name at the end of the comment (should you choose to write one).

 

ARE WE TRULY GRATEFUL ENOUGH.. and for the right things? Ask yourself..

As we go through life and navigate from one age and one stage to another.. there are certain “buzz words” and “key phrases” that rule.. When we were very young it was “children are meant to be seen and not heard” and then it changed to “Do as I say don’t do as I do” and so on.. and we as obedient children listened and adhered..

Time went by.. we grew up.. developed our own identities and personalities and the phrases changed to “it’s all about loving your parents” and “nothing is impossible.. the word itself says I M possible”.. and thinking we were invincible.. we were convinced about these truths too..

When we started working we were told things like “TEAM” stands for “together everyone achieves more” and “We’re number 2.. we try harder” and we pushed ourselves to outperform each other and ourselves.. and thought that would result in accolades and awards.. and it did.. BUT..

After giving (almost) our hearts and souls to other people.. friends.. family.. the boss and the office.. we had a “Eureka moment” and realized that something was wrong.. The salary cheque was substantial.. there was recognition and fame.. but there was still something “missing”.. and for the life of us.. we couldn’t put our finger on it!

It was around then that all of a sudden.. buzz words and phrases.. life coaches.. spirituality and “personal growth” became the rage and we got advice and life lessons that went something like this.. “Think positive.. good energy matters.. be thankful.. practice gratitude actively”.. and so.. in our own muddled and confused way.. we tried.. said multiple “thank yous” to God or the universe every time something good happened to us! This was a good thing.. but the question is.. was it good enough?

The answer is very simple.. NO.. no it’s not good enough.. because we need to first identify and acknowledge our blessings before we can be grateful for them! And most of us believe that the time to be grateful is when plans work and good things happen to us and the people we love.. Right? This is actually wrong.. or at best.. just partly right!

My dear friend Navaz sent me a video where it shows a simple down to earth person says gratitude shouldn’t be only for the good things that we receive but.. and get this loud and clear.. it should ALSO be for all the bad things that we don’t want and don’t receive! Let me explain this a little more.. Essentially.. we need to “flip the script” meaning..

Let’s assume that I don’t want a life-threatening illness.. and I don’t have one.. something to be grateful for.. Let’s say I don’t want to be financially or emotionally dependent on anyone.. and I am not.. that’s another thing to be grateful for! We need to understand and accept that not getting what you don’t want is a huge blessing in itself and we should be grateful for it!

Make a list of all the things that you don’t EVER want.. credit card fraud.. broken relationships.. losses in business.. infidelity in marriage.. and THEN sit down and realize how many of them you don’t have.. Understand how blessed you are and how much you really have to be grateful for.. and then thank God.. the universe and whoever else you need to!

Make your own personal list of “buzz words and catch phrases” and make sure to include “peace of mind.. joy in the heart.. solitude.. reflection.. compassion.. soul growth.. kindness and good energy” in it.. and don’t forget to be grateful for NOT getting the things you don’t want!

As always.. thank you for your patience and for reading.. and do add your name at the beginning or end of your comment (should you choose to write one)..

Remain blessed and wishing you a wonderful weekend!!