Notes from life

Notes from life

Times Life reader Neha Srivastava logs in what shes learnt in her 36 years of existence

1978

A glass of milk stared at me menacingly. How do I get rid of it with Mom standing right on top of my head The sink was an old trick; my sister always knew if her glass was refilled ; plants disclosed the secret there was no saviour.

At 5, life taught me that there was no escaping milk and Mom.



1983

I want that dress now, I screamed. It was my best friends party and I wanted a new dress. There was an insanely sane expression on Moms face, till I stopped screaming as I realised Id just bought a dress a month ago.

At 10, life had taught me that unreasonable demands were never fulfilled.



1988

Dont tell your Mom, Im not telling mine either, that we are going for the movie after class. They will never allow us, I whispered to my friend over the phone.
No, came the prompt reply, I never hide anything from my Mom and Im sure she will let me go.
And so it was. Our parents not only allowed us to go but also gave us extra money.

At 15, life taught me that good company always makes you a better person and reasonable demands are always fulfilled.



1993

This is my life, I will make my own career decision. Dad just looked up from beneath his glasses and said, Of course you will, but Economics hasnt ever been very good to you and English always pulls your marks up.
I took English Honours and topped the course. I was picked up by a top advertising agency.

At20, life had taught me to respect experienced people.



1998

Plonk went my engagement ring in GETTY IMAGES
the dustbin What
do you think of yourself I told you to be
on time, but you were
busy in office.
With a tilted smile, my fianc fetched the ring out of the dustbin, took my hand and put it on again, Sorry, Im late, I work so that I can give us a secure future.
Blush was all I could do.

At 25, life had taught me that I needed to be more mature and that only the lucky ones found true love.



2003

I twisted in pain. The tumour above my uterus had been operated and the stitches were still wet. I thought the pain would never go. My family stood beside me like a rock, attending to every need. My husband donated blood and assured me that the pain would go soon. At that time, I never believed him.
A month later, I was driving and had forgotten all the pain.

At 30, life had taught me that pain and joy come in cycles; God doesnt deprive anyone of either, because they are part of your growing process.



2006

In the sixth month of pregnancy, my husband and I are busy looking at websites, books and magazines for each weeks development of the baby. We are consulting doctors and driving our siblings, friends and parents crazy with our anxiousness . Praying. Everything must go well.

2009

Praying. It is still three hours to go for my hubby to get back from Finland by the 4am flight, our three-year-old brat is sleeping peacefully. I realise that Im still praying. For big and small things! For the safety of my family a big thing, for a dream house a small thing

At 36, life taught me that God always listens to my prayers and also that Im still learning the subject called life!


There are three main things that life has taught me:
One, that life teaches us a lesson every day.
Second, our family is our weakness and our strength.
Finally, God is there with us at every step. Just talk to Him.