STORY TELLERS
A page for readers to share their views, thoughts and stories.
We invite readers to share thoughts, anecdotes, views or stories on a particular subject. Last week we asked: What was the best advice, knowledge or skill your mother passed onto you? Here are your replies. It’s often that we kids have tiny problems at school, and we get home in a bad mood. A few months ago, that’s how I was; always talking to myself about worries, getting grumpy without any reason. My mom, naturally, noticed it. One day she came up to me and just said, ‘Never put the key to your happiness into someone else’s pocket.’ At first, I wondered what it meant. She explained, ‘Lakshmi if you want to be happy, then you have to take the first step. You should not wait for others to make you happy. Instead of getting into an argument, talk calmly and in a polite manner. People will respect you and gradually the problem will be solved, just “There is no guarantee that life can only provide you happiness, there will be a lot of struggles and those who hold on will survive. And there will be a day of happiness stored for you. Patience and prayers will definitely help you to move on.” That’s the best advice my mom gave me, I’ll always treasure it. Teena Jijil
My mother taught me to be happy with the way I look naturally. Maggie @me_r858
don’t explode like a pressure cooker and don’t react in a negative way. Try to be positive.’
This took time, as it wasn’t easy, but sometimes thinking about a pressure cooker did help. As I started to change, the perspective of my friends towards me changed and I became a better student.
I’ve realised life is 10 per cent what happens to us and 90 per cent how we react to it and we should take the first step to be happy. These lessons did change my life, just like each and every mother, my mother helped me with my problems. I love you Mamma, and I will always owe you. Lakshmi R Menon
The most important lesson that my mother taught me was that if you can get through and ignore the small difficulties in life, you will be able to achieve the bigger goals that you have set. If you concentrate on the small things, you will lose focus on everything else. Twenty years on, this has stayed with me and has proved to be the most valuable lesson and I’d like to thank my mother for everything else that she taught me, for all my successes and giving me all that she could. Sadia Mohsin
The teachings my mother has given cannot be expressed in words. The best thing she taught us was to be a good human being and also if you are right, never give up. She is my friend, philosopher and guide. My life is inspired by her teachings. Seema Shaik When it came to matters of the heart, my mum would always say, “Baby girl, don’t fall for a man by his outward show – a feather flies high but a pearl remains low.” Christalynne Rodrigues-D’souza My mother and my motherin-law are my pillars of strength. They both are exemplary examples of hard work, dedication and determination, qualities that I have naturally imbibed from both of them. These two gems have taught me invaluable lessons about marriage, parenting, work, relationships and life. Puja Gandhi My mom always told me to live within your means. Never ever use a credit card in swiping for payments in restaurants or supermarkets. Always pay by cash. You might have already digested that junkfood, but payment is still pending. Sounds funny, but it’s true. Yeah, my mom is funny and a good provider. Clever woman! Maldita Hermosa