. . . As we go on as travelers, some enthusiastic, some bored, some tired, through the journey called life, we discover a lot around and within us. New places, new people, new cultures, new disciplines, new characters, new virtues, new lessons, these come by us every moment. One such element which we don’t really miss out on is the people who have a flabbergasting influence on our lives- role models, heroes, etc. So now as I sit here thinking on these lines, a question comes to my mind time and again- who is my idol? Whose footsteps do I follow? On actually giving this particular query some thought, several faces come into not just my head, but everyone’s. When I thought of role model, my mom, few friends, teachers, few cricketers, and few celebrated icons all made their way into my head! Nothing arouses ambition so much as the trumpet clang of another's fame. But the real point was about the extent of influence they had on my life. Did I follow what they stood for? Did I follow all the good they propagated? Little did I know that a question which was so easy to answer when I was 6 would be so tough to respond spontaneously to 10 years later.
A role model is formally defined as someone who serves as an example and whose behavior is emulated by others. Going in this direction, I can’t point out a SINGLE person as my role model. To be quite honest, I would consider my life on a whole and the many entities within it as my example, as the sort of elements I derive inspiration from. When I was three, my environment was my teacher. I learnt from the things and people around me. At that time, my parents were my heroes. If they hated something, that “thingie” wouldn’t find itself in my book of likes. However naughty and crooked I was at that time, when independence was a part of life, my parents were the people I wanted to grow up into. At that time, I wanted to be just like them, responsible know-it-alls who knew right from wrong and at the same got away with their little mischief.
And then came the icons and the celebrities, with their high talent and glamour quotient. It was easy to follow them for I always thought being like them would be this easy passageway to success. I idolized stars who could fight all odds and make it into an arena where influence and power is everything. People who rested their faith on hardwork and that good amount of trust on themselves made me believe in myself. In this context, just to satisfy my heart, I would like to name Rahul Dravid, who has been one HUGE influence in my life. I may not be a budding cricketer but the lessons which his life teach merely ordinary beings like me are humongous. Life being a star was not easy, but they carried it off with élan, which definitely got tables turning their way.
As time went by, friends became the ones who had maximum impact on my life. But not all were ideal to admire. In this sense, I consider myself lucky to have met some amazing people. I had the pleasure of having few people in my life, who were strong and who faced the yorkers of life with a straight bat. Some were sensitive to others’ feelings and carried themselves keeping their surroundings in mind, while some others, full of grit as they were, dared to face the world with a frank and rather don’t-care attitude. Each of these people invoked a sort of respect within me. They were fearless people who dared to chase their dreams, some being sensitive to others and their opinions, some being ruthless lean mean goal- attaining machines. Either way, they respected people who gave them their space, and no matter what amount of influence they let others have on them, their mind and heart had the last word on all their decisions. Seeing so much of strength and cohesion of their thoughts and actions made me want to judge myself the way they did and not crib about every single problem that came my way. They helped me strong and face strife with courage. If I hadn’t followed their footsteps I wouldn’t be what I am today.
I guess now you would have figured out why I was so confused to name one single person as my role model, the person whose footsteps I follow. Despite thinking of so many people, so many moments and experiences, I somehow feel that I follow none, but myself, my life and the lessons I learnt personally on the way. Oliver Goldsmith might have said that People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy. But looking at it from my shoes, I have no one else but myself to learn from. My joy, my sorrow, my mistakes, errors of judgment have all made into my life’s book. It is ultimately these pages that help me get up when I fall, give me hope when I have none left, give me courage when I refrain from standing up. Ultimately, no matter who you are impressed by, it’s your mind and your heart that you follow. I guess for me, home is where my heart is! J --------x-------
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