December 1st, 2016. The date is etched in my memory – every detail, every emotion, as vivid as if it were yesterday. It was the day our beautiful daughter, Nirvana, entered the world.
The night before, my wife, Gurdeep, had been concerned. She hadn’t felt the usual movements. It wasn’t entirely unexpected at thirty-six weeks pregnant, but we rushed to the doctor the next morning just to be sure. The ultrasound revealed a complication: the umbilical cord was wrapped around our baby’s neck. The doctor reassured us it wasn’t cause for immediate alarm, but a C-section was necessary. We had a choice: today or tomorrow.
Gurdeep wanted to wait. I couldn’t. My emotions were a chaotic mix of apprehension and overwhelming joy. And, perhaps selfishly, the date held a special significance – it was my birthday, too. After some gentle persuasion, we agreed: today was the day.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl. Finally, Gurdeep was taken into the operating room, and I was allowed to be by her side. My heart pounded. I knew I had to be strong for her, to offer comfort and distract her from any fear. I held her hand, chatting about anything and everything, completely unaware of the passing moments. And then… wow. Goosebumps. The doctor lifted our daughter into the world. It was a miracle, terrifying and beautiful all at once. Time stopped. I went numb, and tears of pure joy streamed down my face.
The only time I’ve ever been truly delighted to hear a baby cry was that very first time.
Life Lessons from My Little Guru
Nirvana is eight years old now, and my love for her deepens with each passing day. But recently, I’ve also gained a profound respect for her. It’s astonishing how much an eight-year-old can teach a thirty-eight-year-old.
1. The Power of Authentic Expression
Nirvana doesn’t hold back. Her inner emotions and outer expressions are perfectly aligned. When she’s happy, she radiates pure joy – laughing, hugging, kissing – transforming the entire atmosphere of our home. But she’s equally honest with her “negative” emotions. She cries, she yells when something upsets her. I used to get frustrated, seeing it as misbehavior.
Then, it hit me. She’s a clear channel, completely transparent, flushing out whatever she feels in the moment. She lives fully in the present, unburdened by suppressed emotions. I realized I’d been searching for that same freedom my entire life. Now, I’m learning to express myself more freely, to say “no” even to loved ones, to stand up for what I believe in. I might lose some people along the way, but the ones who matter will remain. And most importantly, I’m becoming truer to myself.
2. Happiness: Our Natural State
Nirvana is rarely sad for no reason. But she’s happy for no reason almost all the time. She doesn’t need possessions or external validation to be joyful; she finds joy in the simplest things. She can play with anything, with anyone. It made me realize that we don’t need a million choices to be cheerful. We can choose to be happy, regardless of circumstances.
I used to be all mind, no heart, constantly craving “me time,” but never truly understanding how to enjoy solitude. Nirvana taught me that happiness isn’t about the outside world; it’s an inside job. It’s about presence.
3. Fear and Excitement: Two Sides of the Same Coin
Nirvana is experiencing so much for the first time, and her excitement is infectious. New restaurants, plane trips, car rides – things that had become routine, even boring, for me – she approaches with wide-eyed wonder. She has no preconceived notions, no judgments.
She’s taught me that learning begins with exploration, and exploration begins where comfort ends. I’m still learning, but inspired by my little guru, I’m trying to embrace new experiences, to reframe my fears as excitement.
These lessons, learned from observing and interacting with my eight-year-old daughter, have been invaluable. As Jenni Young beautifully stated, “Every single event in your life, especially the difficult lessons, have made you smarter, stronger, and wiser than you were yesterday.” I hope these reflections might inspire you, too, to find wisdom in the everyday moments, and perhaps even to learn a thing or two from the little gurus in your own life.
