Introducing A Little Wave and Other Stories

We often wait until someone is gone to verbalise how much we love them and share the impact they have had on our lives. In my culture, when someone passes away, we join together as a community and often share moving eulogies for these dearly loved people. I would often feel even more sad that the deceased couldn't be there in person to listen, but also that their loved ones couldn't have the joy of seeing and feeling their reactions. It made me realise that I wanted the people I love to know, when they are still alive, what they mean to me. 

This is why I am publishing a children’s book written with Ashley Johnson on an important topic that we don’t give enough attention to - preparing ourselves gently for losing loved ones. The Little Wave and Other Stories is special to me because it honours the deep spirituality that I have been brought up with and which I too am passing on to my children. We wrote this book as a guide for both parents and children, as a comfort in dark and difficult times and to help parents navigate death and loss by the side of their children.

I have my parents to thank for the gift of spirituality that has guided me to write this book, and guided me in many other parts of my life. On my birthday a few years ago I realised that the gift I would value most would be for my parents to know the profound impact they have had on me and on my life. 

Today I would like to share this deeply personal letter with you as a snapshot into the life I have been gifted and as an introduction to The Little Wave and Other Stories which is currently available in India.

I hope that this letter and the book may inspire you to prioritise sharing your thoughts with your parents or someone else you love; don’t wait to tell them how much they mean to you.

To my beloved parents,

It is hard to put into words feelings as profound as these. They can’t seem to bear the full weight of my love, or contain the full depth of my gratitude. 

But I will try. 

Because there is so much to say, and so much to thank you for…

Growing up under your care has been so special.

You didn’t care whether we were top of our class, popular, sporty, creative or pretty. Other people seemed to care about these things. Your only care was our happiness. 

You believed in us so deeply it was impossible not to believe in ourselves. 

You held us so tight we felt invincible. 

You loved us so fiercely and so tenderly, too. 

You built a home and foundation for us that was safe, warm and full of laughter. 

You gave me a lifetime of memories - some big, some small, some to learn from and some to lean on:

Mummy - 

For the ways you would nurse and nourish me each time I was ill.

For our wonderful trips to Los Angeles, setting your example as you silently lit the divas in your pooja, reading from your time-weathered Gita day after day.

For your delightful stories of Lucky the dog.

For the countless hours spent preparing my wardrobe for marriage.

For the courage it took to poison your body with chemotherapy so you could continue to guide and light our way.

For all that you shielded me from - I understand more now what that meant. 

And for all that was left unsaid.

For introducing me to my Guru.

Daddy - 

For the way you scaled the stairs, no matter if your legs were aching, to tuck me in every single night until the day I got married.

For carrying our bikes Sunday after Sunday despite us assuring you each time we would ride all the way home 

For working hard day after day to provide for our every need and wish

For praying deep into the night each year on our birthday for our protection

For being the first one there when Ishani was born, and for the way you championed Niral in that precious moment.

For the way, like Hanumanji, you have moved mountains for me, for us, countless times.

For an unconditional love that taught me never to settle for anything less.

For all this and so much more, I want to thank you both. 

As God is your silent partner, He is also mine. You have shown me His love through your lives. 

And you have touched many more lives, too. Hundreds of thousands of people have felt comfort and joy because of your gifts. Most of these people may not know your name, but you are their silent support. This is your legacy. 

And so is this: you have shown us that making a living is not the same thing as making a life. If you incarnated only for me, and only for this one lesson, that would have been enough. 

You both are the bow to my arrow, and I love you with all my heart. 

With love and gratitude, 

Your Sonal