To a 16 year old:

I was recently invited to a cousin's birthday.

Now that I have turned to be a party pooper who questions why being born calls for celebrations and the hater that I am now on giving any materialistic gifts, my mom was a bit apprehensive on the gloom I might bring. (Oh, mind you, I was crazy about birthdays up until I turned 18, and gifts up until 25).

She was turning 16. And what better gift could I get a fun, sixteen year old than a book talking about risks and rewards on being part of the new renaissance, wildly unfolding right in front of our eyes, Age of Discovery.

Hey, she might not know what a fun read this is and might drop me a lovely note in another decade or so. And I couldn't just give the book without adding some wisdom of my own, how could I.?

Dear sister,

You are turning 16 today. I thought about what I wished someone had told me when I was your age. So here it goes.

I have to acknowledge what a confusing era we are in today. The world has found itself at the crossroads of significant achievements and unthinkable challenges. I recommend starting this book by reading Mirandola's quote on Page 265. 

The world needs its younger generations to be active citizens more than ever before. Be part of the movement that is out there thinking and designing solutions for our greatest challenges. No matter how big or small it is you choose to do, aim for it to make a difference. The golden advice I ever received was

'Devotion to duty is the highest form of worship'.

Work so hard that your mind aches, run so fast that you are out of breath, think so deep that you feel lost, aim so high that you want to give up.

But at the same time,

Pause. 

Pause and look at that tiny butterfly flapping its wings, a small flower trying to bloom, your distorted reflection in a single rain droplet still hanging and that single puffy cloud passing by.

For between these little things you admire and the great things you aspire to be, lies life itself. 

When I was 16, I didn't know I was enough. I was either too thin or too dark or scored too little. The sooner you realize what you are and what you have is more than enough, the greater the joys you will experience. That includes your height and weight and wealth and intelligence and everything else.

Instead of dwelling on what could be better, embrace how great everything already is. Everyday feel more grateful for how lucky we got to be and consciously acknowledge the privilege we have. 

Consider helping others as a duty and not as a charity. Ponder on that as often as you can.

The only thing that will never be enough is what we can learn and especially the things we have to unlearn and relearn.

Always keep an open mind and realize learning is beyond the degrees and certificates we get. Be curious. Challenge your own thinking and that of everyone else around you even if you agree. Read Steven Pinker and Daniel Kahneman and Chimamanda Adichie, learn about the lives of Wangari Maathai and Ada Lovelace and Nadia Murad and watch documentaries about great thinkers of all times, soon you will realize the only limit we have is what we think as our limits. 

And I really wish someone had told me not to worry about what others might think of me. Be brave to face the real world which can be ruthless at times. Have the courage to navigate all the hurdles that you will come across.

Be unapologetically adamant to achieve your dreams.

Don't let anyone convince you that a girl cannot do something. It is just as silly as it sounds.

Breaking the cultural clutches while growing up in South India's conservative, traditional society is not going to be easy, I am not going to lie. After all, I should know.

You will find people yell at how ridiculous your dreams are, you will find friends convincing you why you don't need to run after your own goals, you will find your own relatives disowning you for your alternative views, you will find the society that you admired once, shunning you out as you don't conform to the norms, you will be called selfish, arrogant, heartless, senseless, heretic, a shame and lot more, your own parents will not be okay with the way of life you want for yourself, Or worse of all, you will even question your own self - but don't give up.

I can't emphasize this enough, please don't give up and don't give in.

As John Lewis said 'Get in Good Trouble' and carefully choose the troubles you want to fight because you won't be able to change everything.

To the age old question of 'what would you like to become?', here are some choices - become a great thinker, a creator, a problem solver, a giver and the greatest of all, become the kindest person you can possibly be.

For in kindness alone lies the solution to the greatest of so many problems.

Hold yourself to the highest of ethical standards and don't take humility, honesty and integrity for granted. They are rare.

I hope you will live to see the dawn of next century, and when you do, I wish you would sit with a smile and think of the peace and happiness you got from your greatest and tiniest moments all along.

And the biggest of my hopes are for you to spend the next many decades sketching and sculpting those moments. 

Happy Birthday.