Father Figure

Running always brings the best thoughts in my mind. At the start of my run when I am just beginning to get into the stride, I have thoughts about the last few hours before my run - whether it is some issue at work, or home. But in a matter of 10 minutes, random thoughts start coming to me - thoughts that I should be thinking, things that are important, things I am struggling through currently in my life, and when I run, I look at the same problems/issues so very logically.

Being an engineer (software engineer) by profession, I need to use logic on a regular basis, but it seems that I use it the most when I run. I am Shweta, and my relationship with running started very early since elementary school when I began participating in track and field races, and started winning running races. Sports has been a part of my life since very early childhood - thanks to my dad who introduced us (my sister, and me) very very early.

My dad whom this blog is about is an Orthopaedic surgeon, and a rock star surgeon, not just a simple one! He is very famous in my hometown, someone who enjoys his work, and does it with a great amount of passion.

During my recent run, I had a lot of thoughts about my dad. I wish I could have a pen attached to my brain so I could pen each thought that came during my run. I will do my best and try to punch them down.

Being a surgeon by profession, my dad was very busy. So, doing things with him meant we either did them over the weekend (Sunday) or very early in the mornings. When we were really little, my dad who is a swimmer himself took us swimming to Bamboo Motel (a small motel that had a swim pool). I do not remember much about the swimming - I do remember my first swimsuit (blue with a red belt) but what followed the swim was french fries and ketchup! I always looked forward to that. We swam almost every Sunday with my dad. When we were around 10 years old, we moved, and a really cool swimming pool complex was about a mile away from home. So, my dad started taking us swimming there. The head coach of the state team, saw my dad teaching us and asked my dad if he would let us swim with the team. My dad agreed, and that started our swimming career!

Being on a swim team meant swimming early in the morning (5:45 am), and every evening (except Sundays) from 3:30 - 7:00 pm. My dad would take us to the early morning practice, and we had two bikes so we would bike to practice and back in the evenings. Other than being decent swimmers, swimming taught me a lot! The first being - discipline. Not showing up to practice was not permitted unless we had a very very strong reason! Time management was the other important lesson. We had to finish homework before 3 pm to get ready to go to practice. Keeping things for after practice was not even an option - we hardly had energy to last through dinner. Working hard was also another valuable lesson swimming taught me - the countless laps that needed to be done for every workout - sometimes those laps did not even help qualify for a national meet. But we did them. I was never a great swimmer, but swimming really taught me a lot in my life, and I only have my dad to thank for this.

Being raised in India where doing sports is really not what most people do let alone girls. But my dad was a strong supporter for doing something other than just studying. He said every body studies and gets good scores. We did things very differently back home. Riding bikes to school, around town, to practice, and back - being independent at a very young age was something that my dad instilled in us. To this day, I am so thankful to have that quality. Both me, and my sister can live anywhere on planet earth, and fend for ourselves.

I still remember doing a triathlon when I was less than 15 years old, and winning a silver medal in All India nationals, and being motor paced by my dad on his scooter. Thinking back, I am amazed how my dad knew to do make us do these activities. The vision that we need to do more than study, and take up a sport seriously. He did not mind if we did not win medals, but he was upset if we did not work hard. He always showed up to all the swim meets, and we always ended up making a holiday out of swimming national meets.

We went on road trips every summer. My dad loves to drive - may it be the Fiat he first owned, or the VW Jetta he currently owns! He loves to drive. We drove to neighboring states, and visited hill stations (mountain towns), very rare non-touristy places (at that time!) and visited coffee plantations, national parks, lived in tree houses in a tea plantation. I definitely had a very fun childhood.

I don't think my dad sat down and told me what is right, and what is wrong. He just was an example to follow - being dedicated at work, very disciplined person was just something I saw growing up. Being in private practice meant being on call every day of the week (yes, Sunday's included) - but I never saw a frown on his face when there was some patient that came with a broken something! He treated people who could not afford his fees for free - never asked them to pay. That meant we always enjoyed a lot of treats from his patients! I still remember one patient who brought us easter eggs, and marzipan chocolates for Easter.

My dad does a lot of work for people - he is a member of Rotary International - where he received a grant to treat polio patients. This is what he does on Sunday's when he is not treating other patients. His work was recognized by the Government of India, and was awarded a medal by a minister of the parliament. I still remember going to the capital of the country to see him receive the medal. He has started many other facilities for the people of the state through Rotary International. This is another example of leading by example.

He never told us to study - he just expected we would or rather we should. Being raised by parents who are both doctors, science came naturally to both me and my sister. I still remember doing very badly in the third semester at engineering college, and one sentence from my dad was sufficient "I am not paying your fees so you can do so badly". That was sufficient for me - since then, I always did well. When I got first class (which is 60% and above), my dad just said "I don't know what is stopping you from getting a distinction (70% and above)", and the next semester, distinction was the grade I had. I managed to be in the top five in my class by the time I finished engineering - had a job when I was just 20 years old!

My dad always believed in higher education - he wanted us to study more. When I did start working, and was asked to go to Germany for a project - he got me a Eurail pass - he said just travel and see Europe. Not many people get such opportunities! And travel I did - and traveling taught me a lot of things. First being planning - how to plan a trip, all the logistics, and how to execute to that plan. To this day, I love to travel, and more importantly plan the travel ! I traveled around Europe with friends, sometimes all by myself. It was fun!

I could go on and on about how my dad has really made me who I am.

Towards the end of my run, I thought about what I could do as a parent myself. Be my dad as a mom for my son!

This post was about my thoughts on a snowy cold day that came to my mind. As much as my dad has influenced my life, my mom at the same time has been a very good role model that has shaped my life equally. That will be a post for some other run. I will let those thoughts come to me.