It was awards day in P’s school today. The day you feel proudest of your child and forget all those times you were after her life to complete home work and study. She won 7 awards in total. For academics and extra curriculars and keeping herself well organised in school (hah! Let them see her at home. They will surely cancel the award for her)

It was truly a proud moment when the teacher called out 7 awards one after the other. But then every student gets a minimum of 2 awards. So it’s ok I guess….. though 7 is a good number….. hey who am I kidding. I’m trying to be modest here but the truth is I’m like WOOHOO!!! Way to go my darling. She isn’t a subject topper or a class topper but still…..7! Yay!

But you know what the best part was (of course apart from hearing the list of awards my daughter got)? When the subject toppers or class toppers were announced, their friends would hoot and jump and cheer them on. I loved that about these kids. The spirit and enthusiasm with which they cheered their friends was just amazing.

I wish we as adults could be so happy at others’ achievements. Children are so innocent and so pure in their hearts. As we grow older we slowly develop these negative feelings of jealousy and hatred. We don’t like it when people are ahead of us. We get jealous at other people’s success. Why? Because we haven’t achieved as much as that person? But what is the measure of achievement? Money? Foreign holidays? Big cars? I would say….. NO.

I think the measure of achievement is when I have a loving family. It’s when I have friends around who care for me and love me. Its when I have a roof on my head and food on my plate. It’s when I’m happy with whatever I have. It’s when I’m enjoying the work I do. I’m not slogging my ass for some unforeseen happiness which is again measured in money. In Hindi there is a saying “paisa kya hai? Haath ka mail” it means… what is money? Just the dirt from your hands. We rub it off and it’s gone. There today. Gone tomorrow. We should look at more deeper meanings for achievement. It might mean different things for you and me. But as long as it makes me happy and keeps my thoughts positive. I’m good!