What do we tell our kids on their Birthday ?

There are many things I tell my kids. Most of it is advice. But when I write I also reflect on ourselves. Today our son turns 17 and as always I decided to write for him. Usually I don't post on LinkedIn, as it is a professional network. But as kids grow you tend to start communicating with them differently. Soon he is going to have an account here as well. So thought of sharing here

Happy 17th Birthday Rahi

And slowly you are getting out of your teens, becoming closer to an adult. What does that mean to you. What does that mean to your old man. I don’t even remember when I turned 17 or even 18. I remember when I turned 40 and when I turned 50.

This last year was when I really started thinking about you growing up to being an adult. What will you do in life? how will I guide you? Will I be able to guide? Am I an example to follow? What are those things in me that I don’t want to see in you? So many questions came looking for answers. I am not sure if I have found them. May be I will never find them. Because I am always looking at you through me. Through my experience. Through my limitations.

I realized that I might be holding you back because of my limitations. I might be trying to put constraints on you that I have built around me. Transferring each on of those limitations on to you. I realized that I should not be a limiting factor for you.

The last year was also the time when I fully embraced you as an artist. I understood that what you will be happy in life is being in theater. Being around other creative people. Growing in your creative world and providing that expression to the world we live. The answer to the question “what do I want you to be when you grow up” has shifted. It has shifted from a profession to a very simple statement

“I just want you to be happy when you grow up”.

And happiness is what you define it to be and not what I define it with my limited view of the world.

I definitely would love to see you build your own view of the world. I might have intentionally or unintentionally tried to impose ideas and thoughts. I want to let you know that you are not bound by any of that. None of that matters in front of what you will learn from your experience. Feel free to discard them all if you think they are limiting you. You were born free and you should live free. I will just be there for you.

Today is also the International Women’s day and it will be so for the rest of your life. It gives us the message of equality, respect and equal opportunities. Carry that thought with you.

People talk about passion, but life in itself is the passion. Yes some dreams might not come true, some battles will be lost, some goals will not get achieved. But understand that no one in this world fails in their attempt at life. We grow, improve and become everything we want to be inside and outside.

We transform and we transcend.

Yes I know after the initial few words I have fallen back into the advice trap. But hey, that is what dad’s are for. They will give you all the philosophy about being free and following your own instinct but will not stop from giving you advice. Advice is free after all. The easiest thing to give to others.

I did have one request though. You are an extremely good ventriloquist with a real talent for it. You are a natural in making a puppet come to life. That is one talent that will take you long ways. I hope you build on that talent on your Channel . Last time I saw you on stage I had this feeling that is your space. It is such a good thing to know what you want when you are 17. I never did.

You will hear people talk about success as you get into adulthood. Find your own definition. I will give you mine. Success is not about money or fame, but being happy, honest and transparent. Our life is a success if people are able to trust us and we are able to trust them. I don’t know what would be more important than that.

Refine everything you define. Even answers to the simplest questions can change with time. Ask more questions and find new answers.

Don’t stop living and don’t stop having fun living.

Enough of my advice. It is your day. We are lucky to have you in our life. Have a great year ahead. And keep updating your blog more often

Love ??