plastoflippancy – untitled

This story is about a story. Story I heard when I was a little brat.

It’s about a fierce woman who ran away from predestined mediocrity into the unknown with her 2 kids.

She was alone with no one to count upon. She had to savings, no language and no backup plan.

For years they lived in poverty. She would work as cleaning lady in some local businesses during the day, and study during the nights.

The kids weren’t easy, they couldn’t understand why they had to leave their friends behind, why they had to endure the constant mockery of being foreign, why they couldn’t get those pretty toys and why their dad wasn’t there with them.

They didn’t know and wouldn’t know for a while.

It didn’t matter when and why they woke up during nights, whether it was to go to the toilet or due to a bad dream, she was always there, sitting behind a small table near the beds, studying.

She never complained.

She rarely got angry.

She was my mother and my biggest inspiration in life.

Today, she is a team leader in Intel.

She has a nice home, a husband who loves her and grown up kids who idolize and imitate her ambition, courage and sheer will.

Today, when things get tough, I look back and realize that my problems are nothing in comparison to hers during those years.

When I get lazy I remember, feel ashamed and overcome it.

I try not to complain and not get angry.

I try to live up to her, and although it’s nothing she ever asked me to do, I feel compelled to.

They say that during our teenage years we do everything in our power to be the opposite of our parents until we reach adulthood and realize we are just like them.

For me it was different.

I have always striven to lead my life by her example.