Making a fruit salad.

I still remember that day in 10th grade when my teacher was hosting a class discussion on teenagers and what they expect from life, to which very thoughtfully I answered, discovering oneself. No, I did not get applauded for giving a thoughtful answer, instead my teacher retaliated my answer with sarcasm [Classic Mahua ma'm sarcasm] . That reaction though didn't change my answer. Even if someone throws the same question at me again, I shall still stick to my old song- discovering oneself and being it.

The problem is that we are ruled over by ideals. We are ruled over by ideas and questions of society. So, being yourself, being true to who you are in a society that’s constantly trying to make you what they want – is a challenge.  And then being able to discover yourself a midst the ideals and standards laid down in the name of “the law of the land”, I think is an accomplishment in itself. After all, who likes monotony of aged ideas even in a society – no one can have just pears or just apples, being the kiwi or the watermelon that you are is what will and what actually does make the difference.

The beauty that lies in being yourself, your own person is immense and discovering that person is like being on one of those adventures where even if you get lost, you acquire something out of it – that is yourself. It’s not just an adventure for you it’s also an adventure for the ones who are in the journey of life with you. And then as you go around shaping  yourself every day- piece by piece- the people who matter and who really care will stay and join the journey as you collect the pieces that fit in perfectly. Moreover, what is more beautiful about the picture that you form thereon is that it’s not perfect; the beauty lies in the imperfections. The beauty lies in the contrasting hues and the myriad colors which would otherwise seem out of place, in your picture though they all fit in peacefully because they are a part of what you are. A life thus spent being someone else is a life made up of lies, the not so beautiful. As crazy as you may seem or as weird, or just as sophisticated- as long as it is you, it is beautiful. So why look away from the life of beauty?

But then, the road to self discovery and individualism isn't easy. It requires courage, a bit of insanity and a resolve – a resolve to not let anyone decide who you are and what you’ll be. As Friedrich Nietzsche quoted –“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.” Just like that even though there will be days of blue, where you feel you don’t really fit in or you aren't like everyone else, stop and remember – If you have the luxury of being different you are lucky, so don’t let it go as there’s nothing worse for a person than to let go of their own individuality. But simultaneously, we must also remember to not disregard somebody else over their differences. So what if you’re an apple and they are the kiwi – it’s together as a whole that we make a fruit salad- a scrumptious one.

P.S. Which fruit would you like to be, if you could? Isn't the picture just ..I'm hungry *_*