Geeta - Many years ago, when I was born to my parents, my father sent a letter to my late grandfather (his father) in Kerala. In that letter was a list of names that my parents had chosen and my grandfather was asked to pick one name from that list. And since my mother's name starts with G, he chose the name 'GEETA' which became my name. My parents did not believe in pet names, nick names or shortened names and so to them I was always 'Geeta'....only the tone by which they said it differed depending on the circumstances......lovingly (99.99% of the time), with annoyance (come on, every child annoys their parents at some time or the other), with pride (when they talk about me to relatives and friends) and with sadness (when I was leaving my house after my marriage and everytime again when they come to say goodbye to me at Mumbai airport when I am flying back to the US after a trip to India). Now I answer to many names....Geetu, Mummy, Mumma, Chechi, Aunty, Geets, Geeth.....yet I will always introduce myself as....My name is Geeta.....and though there are many other Geetas in this world, my name is unique to me and when the people in my life think of Geeta....they think of me.
Girl - I am not exactly a girl anymore.....a woman now....a wife and a mother....yet always a GIRL at heart. Being a girl child is difficult for many girls in India. There is a lot of gender discrimination between boys and girls in many parts of India. A sad but true reality. I am lucky to have parents who believed in giving their daughters the best education and who provided us with a good and happy home. Many girls in India don't get this....girls are looked upon as a burden and a liability. Hopefully with more and more people getting educated, the winds of change are blowing in the right direction and every girl child in India will be able to lead a life of independence and have the ability to make her own life choices.
God - I believe in GOD....that there exists a powerful entity above all of us. My belief is a source of strength for me and has pulled me through some very difficult and trying times.
Grateful - I am GRATEFUL for everything in my life thus far.....all the positive experiences and for all the negative experiences also.....because it is the sum of these experiences which have defined who I am today.
Signing off thankful for 'Grins', 'Greenery' and 'Google' and this quote by 'Galileo'
'I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.'
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