We Inspire by Our Choices

Me and the little boy don’t always get along,

but everybody has something to inspire.

On this summer afternoon in the picture above,

he was not even three.

As always, he was eager to join me,

on a neighborhood walk.

With a toy car in hand and pulling a wooden turtle,

excited, he fell on our driveway,

and bruised his knees.

I asked him to stay home with his father,

rest and not bother.

He insisted that he still wanted to come.

as he did not want to miss observing things.

I valued his decision,

so, we went.

He reminded me of my own determination,

let me share.

One rainy, windy monsoon day,

when I was in school in rural India,

I was riding my big bicycle,

with a cloth bag full of books and an umbrella in hand.

My hyperhidrosis feet and slippers.

You can imagine the hostile conditions,

we raised ourselves with.

I fell on the road,

cow dung smeared on my leg,

and a kind woman helped clean me up.

A teacher from my school,

who was coming not very far behind,

stopped by, in concern,

and asked whether I wanted to go to school,

or return home.

I said that I did not want to risk missing classes.

He took my bicycle for repairs,

and gave me his to ride to school.

I obliged, went with his bicycle,

and the school staff put Band-Aids on my injury.

I tried to downplay the oozing lymph,

throbbing pain.

but it was hurting badly,

so, I needed to go home.

The wound had started to crust,

and pedaling broke it open again.

Somehow, I reached home.

For the next three days,

there was no school for me.

Of course, my kid will do that.

Felt good to revisit the past.

and remember kindness gestures.

Note: Thank you for reading. Our own experiences with messages are the best things we can do to each other. Right?