Unfurling Leaves, Unfolding Truths

We were sitting for tea, on the old green velvet chairs, a bit eaten by moths on the edges, in the tiny hall with grandma Lalli. The aroma of the freshly brewed mint was strong. Herbal tea always invited me to confess my thoughts and also eager for stories. We had picked the mint that very afternoon, and I got bitten by a mosquito in the process. Grandma always had a hand made potion for bites, so I was not too worried.

I watched the moon glow through the only window and wondered with my thoughts, far and wide. Grandma always had a way of making me feel special. That day too, I felt like I was the most important person in the world, her princess, she used to say.

I was about ten years old back then. I was worried about a Latin test I had coming up after the weekend.

“I can’t do it, Grandma,” I sighed. “I’m just not good at Latin. Definitely not as good as my deskmate. She always gets the highest grade. ”

Grandma had a twinkle in her eye just then, as on many other occasions when she was ready to inspire me with her words. I don’t know where she got her witty phrases from, as she only went to school for 6 grades. Still, I always respected her way of thinking. She said and I will always remember her words, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

“What do you mean, Grandma?” I asked incredulously, puzzled and a bit distracted by the glowing moon.

She chuckled and took my hand into hers, to capture my full attention. I could see her tea was getting cold, but that didn’t matter to her.

“Your attitude, dear, your mindset, is super powerful. You can do whatever you set your mind to. If you believe you can pass your Latin test, you’ll try harder and most likely succeed. But if you believe you can’t, well, you’ve already given up before you’ve even started. Now tell me, do you believe in yourself?”

I thought about that for a while, while sipping on my minty tea. The leaves had unfurled in my mug and were creating mysterious messages as if knowing my thoughts. Well, this was such a simple idea, so simple that it could change everything. I answered with a clear “Yes!” and felt empowered right there and then.

This memory always comes back to me whenever I face a new challenge. I hear Grandma’s voice in my head and I remember the minty leaves and the fact that she believed in me before I learned to believe in myself.

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

It became my mantra, simplified to “Believing in yourself is the best secret of success.” I wrote this on so many notebooks, over my high school years, until I really came to embody it. It helped me conquer my shyness, and my doubts. It made me reach for my goals without thinking too much extra.

Now I realize how much that simple saying has shaped my life. Grandma’s wisdom was a lesson about the power of our thoughts and attitudes. It felt like magic back then and it now borders on manifesting powers. It’s amazing how a few simple words motivated me and made such a big difference in a person’s life.

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***I originally published this story on Medium.***

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