โ๏ธ Usha Maniar
In the office, we all worked side by side,
yet five of my teammates were closest to me.
The difference?
I had a degree, they did not.
Still, they worked harder,
often better than meโ
but blinded by pride,
I looked down on them.
I forgotโ
the salary was never mine to give,
it came from the company,
and I had no right to hurt them.
Time moved onโฆ
Three of them studied at night
while working by day.
One day, they rose higher than me,
becoming my seniors.
It hurt my ego.
Then came an eveningโ
they invited me to dinner.
Everything was arranged with care:
my favorite food, my favorite colors.
I thought it was to mock me.
But they spoke with respect,
with gratitude in their eyes.
They said,
โSir, your strictness pushed us forward.
You made us realize the value of education.
You were our inspiration.โ
Tears filled my eyes.
That night, I understoodโ
greatness lies not in degrees,
nor in positionsโ
but in treating everyone with dignity.
A kind word,
a little encouragement,
can change a life.
Never belittle anyoneโ
fate gives each of us
what is written for us.
We are, after all,
just colleagues,
walking the same road,
learning from one another.
โจ Message:
Respect is the true degree we all must earn.