It’s a paradox of life... bittersweet moments that take you to the highs of pure joy and then plunge you quite immediately into heart-wrenching sadness. I found myself in this impossibly contradictory situation over the past few days. Strangely enough, there was a connecting factor... my family.
First came the high. One of those ‘pinch-me-I’m-dreaming’ moments when Madhur called me in New York to tell me that I had won a National Award... a best actress nod for my role in Fashion. I was stunned! And then I was undone... a call from my parents that opened the floodgates. They were full of pride, praise and love... ecstatic, for me, and I could feel it so strongly even through the transatlantic phone call. I was so happy that I was able to make them happy... to hear that pride in their voice, because if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have any of the successes I enjoy today. I was glad that in a sense I was able to give them something in return.
These two amazing human beings gave up their flourishing careers and put their lives on hold to help me pursue my dreams. They moved to Mumbai, set up a stable home base for me and over the years they have stood beside me and behind me as I chased my dreams. Sitting in my hotel room that night, I realised that I needed to pause and acknowledge the sacrifices they made for me and my brother. I needed to articulate all that I was feeling. I didn’t want to leave it unsaid. I didn’t get much sleep that night. Talking in turns with my family and friends who had called to congratulate me! It was wonderful to share something so special with the people who mean the most you!
{{/usCountry}}These two amazing human beings gave up their flourishing careers and put their lives on hold to help me pursue my dreams. They moved to Mumbai, set up a stable home base for me and over the years they have stood beside me and behind me as I chased my dreams. Sitting in my hotel room that night, I realised that I needed to pause and acknowledge the sacrifices they made for me and my brother. I needed to articulate all that I was feeling. I didn’t want to leave it unsaid. I didn’t get much sleep that night. Talking in turns with my family and friends who had called to congratulate me! It was wonderful to share something so special with the people who mean the most you!
{{/usCountry}}And then came the bad news... I lost my Nana this week. Being so far away from home and from my mum and dad, I was suddenly lost. I wouldn’t be there when they finally laid him to rest and more importantly I would not be physically present to offer my mom and the rest of the family my support or my shoulder to cry on. My Nana was an amazing man, a freedom fighter who lived life on his own terms. He was a forward thinker, who gave my mom and her siblings the freedom and the support to go after their dreams. I am blessed to have had him in my life. He made us so proud. RIP Nana. You will always be loved.
Family is something we take for granted. But every once in a while you need to make the time to tell them and also show them how much their love and support means to you and to finds ways to reciprocate. There is nothing more important and meaningful.