Editorial

Open the Doors in Your Path...

01 Sep 16

When I looked at my mom, I always wondered where she found her strength. Holding a job, taking care of a household, raising her kids, doing community service, and always starting new ventures like this newspaper Asia Today Arizona or her Diwali Mela, she is always running a million miles an hour.

Sometimes you truly cannot appreciate an individual especially if you have known them your whole life until you see them from the lenses of another. Lately, I have been running into so many people that know her and when I meet them, the first thing out of their mouth is I know your mother and she is an amazing woman. At this age, parents are settling down and looking forward to being acknowledged by their children's accomplishments but not my mother and the owner of Asia Today Arizona. Her children are proudly recognized due to her success, hard work, and contributions.

As I take on new responsibilities at work and struggle to manage my commitments to her for the newspaper and the social events such as the Diwali Mela coming up in 2016 and try to figure out a way to balance that time with settling down and trying to run a house, I am now truly amazed at how easy she made it look. Where did this strength come from? Life hasn't been easy for her nor has it been filled with some overwhelming support to make it easier. Then, where did this strength and drive come from? And when I realize it came all from her alone, I am in awe of the strength it must have taken to do what she does.

This month, I also had the pleasure of meeting Lalitha Byra, another strong woman bringing Arizona its first Indian Women's Empowerment Forum a much needed forum to bring women together to help and learn from each other to continue to grow. As I was writing up our column Chai With an exclusive interview with Lalitha Ji and the upcoming empowerment forum, I realized I would not have had the opportunity to meet her had it not been for the Asia Today venture. A door my mother opened many years ago has opened so many more doors month after month and given us the ability to give back to greater causes like women's empowerment. Had she not conceived Asia Today Arizona, I would not have met so many amazing people and had the opportunity to give back to the community in so many ways.

Asia Today Arizona is a great success due to the support and love of our readers, supporters and advertisers for which we are humbly grateful. Our 6th Annual Diwali Mela coming up on October 22, 2016 at Kiwanis Park in Tempe, AZ has had continued success year after year due to same love and support from the community. All of that began with the strength of a woman willing to open that door. I encourage all of you to support Lalitha Byra in a new door she is opening in women in Arizona the same way you have supported us throughout the years. Please read our exclusive Chai With column for more details about Lalitha Ji and the Indian Women's Empowerment Forum being held on September 18, 2016.

There are many times we are at a crossroad where there is a door in front of us and we are afraid of opening it may bring too much work or disappointment or heartache. But we never give a single thought to the many doors that may be beyond that door which will remain closed forever if we don't take the first step. As I look at strong women like my mother and Lalitha Byra, I encourage all of you to open the doors in your path because as I have personally witnessed, it will lead to amazing things. Wishing you all the best and hope to see you at the Women's Empowerment Forum and Diwali Mela 2016!