I want my Granddaughters to become like You!!

This is not the first time when someone told me that they wanted their daughters to be like me when they grew up. I have heard this genuine feedback from quite a few people in my friends circle and relatives. I am not much of an appreciation taker; I have always felt that it's their goodness to see me as someone they can present as role model to their kids.

I know I am not perfect, but I also know who I really am, and I very much love who I am ; no doubt! But when you hear a parent say that they want their child to be like you; that's way more than an appreciation. It's a respect you are given; and I am always humbled when I hear those words.

But I never wrote about it before. Then why today this post?

All the previous comments were made by Indians belonging to similar culture. Not that it wasn't important or close to my heart; but being from Indian culture I can relate to what are the goods and bads I bring to table; and can weigh in as to why they say what they say. So I was thankful to them for appreciating my personality.

But today something interesting happened. Stuck in the snowstorm in PA when a fellow colleague helped me shovel my car out of the snow in the hotel's parking lot; we started conversation outside the boundaries of our work. We sat in the hotel lobby and started chatting. He is 57 years old, an American, who has worked his early years in military and is currently on the same client as I am but from a different vendor company. We drifted from topics to topics to topics - covering cultures, families, personal views, principles, philosophies etc...

And then he said this "I have got two granddaughters, and I would love to see them grow up to be like you.".

Now, I really dint know how to react to this. It means a lot coming from a person of his age, from completely different culture, completely different background. I never expected that from him. Couple of my colleagues have mentioned that they wished I was their daughter; but this is completely different. I just smiled back and said "Thank You!!".

I am overwhelmed with the amount of respect and sincere love people you hardly know show at times; always outweighs the shallowness you see in so called long term relations.

There is something in this place - Bloomsburg.

Another interesting person, another amazing conversation, another evening invested, here's to another soul I have felt connected to. In a span of one month, I have met 4 people that I have felt so connected to, that I haven't felt this way for last 5-7 years now.

Well, thank you Bloomsburg for getting such great people into my life.

And Thank you life for making me who I am, for all the love and respect I have gathered thus far.

-Sarita
Dated - 14th March 2017

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