By: Asha Seth
Tender Tidings, , , , , , , ,

Hope

It’s been 25 years. 25 years now that I am associated with this word – HOPE. A really long time if you ask me. The other day after my 25th birthday my mum said

“It’s hard to believe that you are now 25 years old.  Seems it was just yesterday when I and your father celebrated your first birthday.”

Well, what can I say?  Moments like such leave you wanting to say something. Anything. But what?

Over these 25 years, I’ve seen the world around me change right before my eyes.  I’ve changed. People around me have changed.  Parents, friends, changed. Habits changed. Hobbies changed. But one thing did not change and never will. Something that will remain with me till my last breath. And that’s my name.

It was the first day at school and for homework, the teacher asked all the students to find out what their names meant. Somehow I am sure that at that age it must not have made much sense. Thinking about it now, it seems sensible as hell. It is imperative to know oneself before starting to learn life’s lessons. And our names have a life-long impact on us.

Back in that year, on that day, I learnt what my name meant.

Asha. A small four letter word. Simple. Sweet.

Hope. A small four letter word. Simple. Sweet.

Asha means Hope. Hope means Asha (when translated in my national language – Hindi).

At times, when fate has been hard on me, when I have started to lose patience and feel that it’s the end now, my name itself has been a boost of faith and self-confidence. A vast supply of positive energy to face days ahead.

This little word has imparted a deep meaning to my life. The faith I hold. My beliefs. My courage. My strength. The HOPE for good times.

My name is like my natural refill of hope in life. Like my personal sanctuary of positivity that helps me live through myriads of tricky situations in life.

There are times when there is nothing left but hope. A thread of hope if held securely can lead you out of various unnerving difficulties. It doesn’t help lessen the trouble and pain but definitely makes them seem weaker. It makes you believe in having faith when the going gets tough. Hope is all one should hope to have when everything else seems to have lost. Makes life much easier and simpler

Given a thought, I guess that’s all one needs. When everything else seems to end, there still is hope. Always.

So, the word ASHA is a word which is not just my name but a word linked to each and every one of us. In the form of HOPE.

-Asha Seth