The Flight of a Daughter

Do you recollect seeing that fledgling being nudged out of her nest by her mother? It’s time now for you to go on your own flight, too.

You are lucky to have been born into a free World, but remember that a lot of sacrifice and bloodshed has gone into giving you that freedom – cherish and respect it. Never say to anyone what you yourself might not like to hear; but do not hesitate to raise your voice against injustice and wrong doing – a person who tolerates injustice is as guilty as the perpetrator – and  never shy away from calling a spade a SPADE. When you carry yourself in the walk of life, you are presenting the values, ethics and principles that have been imparted to you by your teachers, guardians, elders and parents. Remember to honour that. The internet has opened a whole new world to people, in the way they interact with each other. Refrain from saying anything on social media that you might not have the courage to say face to face with the person – do not use the veil of online anonymity; maintain decorum and etiquette at all times.  

You will have your share of ‘falling in love’, your share of ‘crushes’ and heartbreaks, too. Love is a wonderful emotion and I do hope you experience it! But give yourself time to comprehend it. Sex is not merely a means for physical gratification; it is, even more importantly, an emotional experience, too. So tread with caution – your body is yours and what you do with it is entirely your prerogative – whether you treat it with respect or abuse it, is a choice only you will make. So, say ‘no’ when you mean NO! Unfortunately, we have not been able to give you a World as safe as we would have liked and, therefore, you also need to take care of yourself: keep your wits about you.

Do not judge a person – you may never know the truth behind a person’s behaviour. If you do not like being around someone, move away. Harbouring negativity will only impact you! No matter how much you learn, remember that it might just be the result of a fortunate co-incidence of you being at the right place at the right time. So, do not be arrogant about it! Arrogance clouds the mind and prevents scope for further learning. Keep the mind open to learning new things – music, dance, writing, a language, …anything. It would make your life that much more enriching! Spread a smile – smiles are more infectious than the deadliest of diseases.

And remember the lines from ‘Invictus’: ‘…I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul’