Human nature
being what it is, drawn to sugar like an ant trail we are always at getting
keyed up when someone famous or around who is having all the joy and success, fame
and name or good and great things heard and said about them. A weird but fortunate thing indeed. At different phases of life- scientists,
sportsmen, statesmen and celebrities. C’mon we all have had that one forever
poster on the wall in the room so that it is the first thing we see when we
wake up in the morning and gazed at him/her like there is nobody else in the world, a
scientist for that eureka moment you thought even you can run with some day, a
cricketer for the way he just held the bat before hitting that boundary, a
leader for whatever he believed and said and did. Inspiration is like fresh air
around, good to breathe.
On a more personal level- a teacher who gave that extra push,
a friend who has always been there no matter what, the mother or father for the
way they just love us unconditionally, well we relate and connect to all of them and how can
one forget those social gatherings where all the elders have this one common
question to ask every kid around after the dance, song and reciting sessions “So
whom do you want to be like when you grow up?” Frankly I would be at sixes and
sevens with that one particular question back then and even now.
In my experience I remember one in a group of boys I met in some school during a health checkup camp few years ago, the teachers had a tough time getting all of
them from the playground because cricket was keeping them busy and a compromise
with that, nah! He was quite restless, continuously looking at the wall clock
and worrying if his PT period was getting over. After examining his chest and
running nose which he kept on rubbing with the back of his hand and the collar crease
I ordered “Say aaah” to have a look at his throat. He looked intently at my stethoscope
and the torch in my hand and asked “Dactar Akka, injection elri?” [ read where
is the injection? ]. And just a minute before that I was thinking of making this smart
chap stand still by mentioning that one formidable medical apparatus.
“You don’t need one right now” I answered. He seemed to
smile hearing that. There was something about him, some sort of energy, he
couldn’t keep his feet together in one place at one time. He observed everything
and everyone around him. I was sure he would have already formulated an opinion
about the bunch of white coats who had utilized his quality cricket time, he was
batting by the way. Examining his eyes, teeth and nails tempted for a
conversation I ended up asking him the same old question with all the curiosity in this world, “So what do
you want to do or whom do you want to be like when you grow up?” and phat came the reply “I want to be myself.”
Look at his grin, yes the one right in focus !
He ran back
to the ground before I was done with filling his yellow medical card, and there
he was one of my role models running, falling, fighting, shouting and hitting
boundaries. Most importantly doing what he loved doing the most, being himself.
As long as we do not have any sort of contempt for learning; each person,
thing or a situation around has something to teach us. You don’t need a hero on
the big screen, a scientist with an invention or a leader with a following. Think
on an introspecting plane and you realize at times we ourselves are our own
role models. I know it sounds too vague or maybe proud but unless we are aware of
this, there is no getting better or being happier than what or how we were a
minute ago. This little young man taught me that, to live and most
importantly enjoy all your moments. Now isn't he a man of honour? :-)
“If you cannot find a
good role model, be one”
-Gale Ann Hurd-
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