[Sep 2024] About the magic fuel of relationships!
At some point you will wonder about the same questions that I have wondered about! Just remember, life is much simpler if you have clarity on how to build a strong set of values and relationships.
Hey Champ!
There are possibly thousands of ways in which I can tell you how much you mean to me and what I would not give to be able to tell you that!
These letters, if and when I am gone, will probably be the only thing connecting me to you. So, I am trying my best to compress everything I would have ever said to you in as few words as possible - because there is just so much to say!
Today - let me just talk about relationships!
Everybody may tell you that the most important relationship one can have is one’s relationship to oneself! That’s definitely true, but we are never just one single person. When we are born, we already have a mom, dad and the family we are born into! So, they have an imprint on us. We continue getting nurtured by them throughout our life or as long as they are present in our lives. So - until our adulthood, at least - we are not just a single person. We are a person + ‘family’ relationships that make us who we are.
As we grow older, our friendships and relationships in the world outside of our family - get stronger, and we develop few other ‘worldly’ relationships who leave their imprints on us as individuals. Some of these imprints are sweet and memorable, while others not-so-sweet and highly forgettable! Whatever the nature of those memories, we build our personality as a result of the influence we carry from these relationships.
So - even when we try and focus only on our relationship with ourselves, it is really impossible to have a healthy one, until we understand and strengthen our relationships with the family and the world that is connected with us. The only way to do that is to adhere to a set of values that you learn about as you associate with everybody around you. These values put together - make up your ‘individuality’ and without having that, you may feel lost - at times when you are required to take decisions for your own good or for the good of people around you.
I am not going to list these values for you, because I am sure you will discover them on your own and choose to adhere to them, as per your understanding. However, I certainly hope that you develop the core value of ‘high integrity’ without which, I am afraid you will lose respect, love and admiration of those who look up to you. Integrity essentially means doing the right thing, even when no one is watching!
Without integrity, all other values are meaningless. A person’s integrity helps everyone establish trust - which is the most important fuel for any relationship. No relationship can run for a long time without high level of trust inherent in that relationship.
So - I hope you maintain high standards of integrity in everything you do, in any relationship you choose and I hope that brings to you infinite love, joy and success in your life!
Love you infinity & beyond!
Your Dad!