I reflected on myself and said: When I was a child, my father was wealthy, and I would settle for nothing less than the most expensive and rare toys. I learned that if I asked for something, I would inevitably get it, but before long I would grow bored of it, and it would end up in the trash, taking with it the most beautifuland most enjoyable moments. I was a child with many demands, showered with my mother’s tenderness and protection, and enveloped by my father’s care, kindness, and respect. I learned good manners from the garden of virtue and drew manhood from our folk heritage through the advice of my father and grandfather; both had a profound impact and deep meaning in my heart. I came to realize that a person without knowledge becomes empty-minded and heartless!

Of my own free will, I chose the paths of knowledge and joined the ranks of students of knowledge—a learner and a seeker of understanding—seeking whatever good and righteousness God intended for me. I have no excuse for my own conduct except myself, for every soul is held hostage by what it has earned. And if I err, I learn and remember that the one who errs is the one who acts; the more mistakes one makes, the greater the achievements. But the wisdom in growth lies in not repeating your mistake twice or thrice, and the mind is the balance of knowledge—for the one whomakes a mistake and then learns is better off than the one who avoids the experience and remains complacent; for the latter weakens himself in two ways: first, practical experience; and second, training and applied tactics.

In my father’s shadow, there was a man who kindled the spirit within me and nurtured my ambition; indeed, he made my dreams more beautiful in my imagination. Nothing stays in the memory longer than a positive word that dispels the storms of negativity and uproots feelings of hatred toward anything. And in his shadow, I was a man hiding inside the body of a child who saw himself as responsible and held accountable for the consequences of his actions—for this is me… And who are you?!

We must all measure our worth against ourselves and no one else, for everyone wants to be valued, and value carries weight. If we do not prepare ourselves to face experiences and learn from them, the scales will tip toward loss, and there will be no time for regret then.

This is from my memories, and I’m sure they resemble some of your own memories related to these aspects—and perhaps they’ve shed light on a forgotten part of yourselves that had become worthless due to neglect and indifference! (Our childhood), which shaped our personalities to a great extent, is the blank canvas on which we painted who we are today; for every pen knows its ink, and the best pens are those that come with an eraser. Here is a principle I learned long ago, and with it I conclude:

The larger your "eraser"—that is, the space for mistakes—the broader your space with others becomes. May you remain safe and well

Writer / Human Development Consultant