Friends,
My aunt, Nahal, passed away on Friday at the age of 51. For eight years, she endured a long-fought battle with cancer.
When I was growing up in Iran, there was no such thing as a babysitter. Family members looked after you when your parents were away.
Nahal took care of my older brother and me — she was very strict.
I hate to admit it, but we resented her for it. She wouldn’t let us play videogames until our homework was done and enforced a precise bedtime every night.
As I got older, Nahal and I argued A LOT. I was your average 20-something-year-old who thinks he’s smarter than everyone else and would relish opportunities to prove her wrong when we discussed politics.
I wish I had spent more time discussing things we agreed on, instead of trying to bend her thinking to my will.
What binds us together is far greater than what separates us, and future conversations with loved ones are never guaranteed. So, if there’s a family member you’re always butting heads with, try to explore a topic you see eye-to-eye on in your next conversation.
Nahal means “little tree” in Farsi.
Today, she was buried next to a little tree in Los Angeles.
R.I.P Nahal
The greatest lessons that help us grow personally and professionally aren’t always in a self-help book. Sometimes, they’re right in front of us. But, we have to be present and tune in. I hope today’s post demonstrates that. If you’re interested in reading my other articles, visit my blog.
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Bardia