As I sit and write this article I have come across a realization that is at the same time humbling and terrifying. I have realized that all my life I have been building up to write this article. Just try seeing it this way, every single decision I have made, every single thing I have achieved, every single heartbreak and joy, every word I have spoken, every dream I have ever had, has led me to this exact point in time. And now that I have arrived, I find myself at a loss of words.
How do I condense the sum total of my being into 300 odd words? What drives me, what led me here, what my fears are?
I have always been naturally inquisitive, I have tried my hand at almost everything I could reach ever since I was young. I have always been active in various sports and martial arts; I have always enjoyed reading and am a proficient musician. More importantly I have an exceptionally supportive family that made it possible for me to actually indulge in my interests. In hindsight, I have been blessed with privileges few in this world are fortunate enough to have and if I am being absolutely honest I have had very little in the way of adversities.
But, it is the way of the world that every single person has his own cross to bear, mine has always been an inability to fit in. Admittedly in the grand scheme of things it doesn’t really rank all the way up there. In my case, my interests led to me being very emotionally independent and self sufficient and at the same time alienating me from many of my peers, growing up - the former fed the latter and Vice Versa. As a result of this I faced many instances of rejection, group ism etc that negatively impacted my confidence and it was only with the help of my family that I actually managed to pull myself out of an extremely bad place that I found myself in. I had to learn that it was okay to be on your own and do your own thing without reservation and apology, I had to learn that it was impossible to please everyone and that the people whose opinions really mattered were few and far between.
As a concept it is rather straight forward to state, but people dedicate their lives to actually putting it into practice – I am a work in progress in that regard, even now at 25 years of age.
My experiences have enabled me to appreciate the difference in perspective that defines the way people view themselves and the world and the deep impact it has on the very fabric of their being.