Inspiration- a word we are quite
familiar with and take pride in mentioning every now and then. In the course of
one’s very short life, I must admit that it is quite astonishing that many
people come and get an opportunity to go as well but the ones who have no
hesitation at all in leaving an everlasting imprint on our soft hearts and
brittle minds can be called role models or better inspirations (Hey. . . That’s
my definition; I wonder how you define them??)
From being a child to a teen (that’s
no mean feat!) I’ve had numerous inspirations (privileged of being a normal
human). As a child (well . . . even now; Wink, wink) the inescapable effect of
the saga of Harry Potter, the brilliant Hermione Granger, the wise old
Dumbledore, the friendly Hagrid, the awesome Weasely twins all left me dazed. I
looked up to them as my role models, trying to be as cool as them (though
knowing full well that I couldn’t even be half as cool as them). But it wasn’t
long before I grew up (or did I grow up??) and realized that there is a world
outside fiction as well. The world I live in. Yes. . . The REAL world (or
should I call it real?). I soon learnt to draw inspiration from my Mum, my Dad,
my Sis, my teachers and so forth. I wanted to be a multi- tasker like my mum,
paint and do math like my Dad, be tall and jolly like my sis, patient like my
teachers and the list was endless (it still is, hehehe. . .). By the time I
entered high school, I thought a good number of 110 (an approximation) people
were enough as inspirations and I was adamant on my decision to not have any
more. But then entered this man with his long curly locks, an air of confidence
about him, an aura of dedication emanating from him, a desire to shape the
minds of hundreds of children and he changed my decision and yes perception of
role models as well. Instantly I knew
that this man would turn an impressive number of 110 inspirations to an
appealing 111. He was Mr. Anees Ahmad (my teacher and a fatherly figure) who
goes beyond books to inculcate in the children the much needed values. His
motivational talks have always helped me and being under his guidance has been
an experience extraordinaire.
All of my (now 130 or more, I’ve lost
count) inspirations taught me that “the one who gives up in life is no
different than the one who never tried” (no famous personality said this unless
I were to gain instant fame which at the moment is most unlikely). After
journeying a long way on the path of life (is 16 yrs and 2 months really that
long??) I’ve come to learn that life is all about being inspired and inspiring
others. People will continue adding up to your vast number of inspirations.
Never think that you’ve got enough inspirations to look up to because you’ll
always fall short of one inspiration and another and yet another. . .
