The Importance of Childhood Lessons

Almost everyone would be quick to agree that I am not the most subtle of people. My irreverent approach to failures, my resilience to loss, my ability to laugh at my stupidity - these are all great weapons in my arsenal, for failures, loss and stupidity are regular visitors in my life. What I manage to achieve is all done in the gaps between their visits.

It wasn't until a few years ago that Amma told me that she had brought me up the way she had - making me run errands on my own, giving me responsibilities at a very young age and expecting - no demanding -an independence from the time I was a mere 6 year old. "I didn't want you to be like me - afraid of everything" she said.  

I would say she succeeded spectacularly. There is very little that I AM afraid of. And that is how my mother wanted me to be. 

I marveled at what a difference that approach of hers had made to me and I thanked her for it.