A 'Prince' Unlike Others

Today my mother called a family friend named Prince over to our house as he is heavily into astrology. Like any good mother, she would like to see me married soon. And I, like the dutiful daughter, have agreed to go along.

Anyway, this gentleman Prince (I actually call him uncle but for will maintain his first name for blog sake) was amazing. From his polite and gracious mannerisms, to immediately easing into our family through his good-natured jokes, to bringing me a book with thought-provoking essays on the future of mankind, to asking me to guess a number between 55 and 62 and correctly revealing which one it was, to using principles of science and nature to teach me the value of astrology, to highlighting the significance of the vivah sanskar, to giving me advice like the one he gives his daughter, this man just took the cake! In as much as an hour, Prince charmed me to a T and won my respect and admiration. The beauty of it was that he wasn't even trying.

Made me wonder how powerful first impressions can be. One just 'feels' it in your gut if you're going to get along with someone. And more so, people give out vibes without realizing it. So, the lesson for the day is to choose the people you surround yourself with wisely. But even more importantly, be the person others want to be around for the positivity they feel when they are with you.

A friend for a lifetime

I met a person a year ago who I would not have thought would become so close. But like others, I eventually got totally drawn in by this guy with the sunniest of smiles, a spark in his eyes, an aura of happiness and positivity around him, and a friend circle that swears by him. I now know why he is as loved as he is. So my new blog of people who leave behind little legacies with everything they do just had to start with him.

You know who you are, this one's for you -

Randomly showing up unannounced in people's rooms
Hiding a subway sandwich behind him
For lunch that would have been forgotten
When chances of passing the finance exam seemed slim

Helping several first years with moving into their new homes
Or treating them to lunch when their kitchen caught fire
Never caring about spending on the frozen yogurt that one loved
Or buying another choco-lover the sinful milk shake of desire

Being a true friend to the fellow without a job
Or to those for whom he planned a midnight birthday surprise
Being the life of the group with all of his hilarious jokes
Or the tender listener to anyone with teary eyes

He deeply cares for those close to him
And even more so for the environment and the world at large
Passion is his middle name which no one can fail to notice
As he strives to 'create value' when he takes charge

This list is endless with the little legacies he leaves everyday
Which I could keep narrating without a stop
He brings a smile to people's faces and makes one pause and think
'Blessed am I to have known him; this lifelong friend that I have got'

How it all started

Professor Joel Peterson of my Managing Growing Enterprises class once told us to think about 'what is the legacy you want to leave behind.' That made me think a lot and I decided to start writing about the little legacies that people leave behind. They could be good or bad but the little things people do or say leave a big impact on those that are affected by it. I, too, have done several things knowingly or unknowingly that may have impacted others around me - for good or bad. But the goal in life remains to leave behind good legacies whenever you have the control to do so. It doesn't mean that one has to 'please others' because that would mean you stand for nothing, but to be a kinder and better human being.

I like leaving trails behind. It reminds me of who I was before I got to where I am. So for completeness sake, here's my old blog: My Little Bubble of Dreams