Identity. The modern man’s deficiency. The most
important yet ignored entity. Most of us today, if asked to identify someone we
pass through on our way to our seat at work, cannot do so. There’s two reasons
to this; One, we don’t care about others. Two, there is nothing noteworthy
about said person to describe. He/She is just another ‘body’ that exists. To
elaborate, that person has no identity in our eyes. And here is a thought:
maybe we are the same in someone else’s eyes. Just a somebody. A normal
workaday busy body.
Once
upon a time, each person had his own identity. One was known for singing, one
for dancing. One for mime, one for being able to mimic. People were known by
their interests and pursuits apart from their names. And today, it is their
employment, financial position and social status which form their
identity. Such a bland way to be known, isn’t it? So superficial, such things. It is a person's choice, indeed, as to what he may choose to be known by. But, there is always a better way of doing things, isn't there?
I like to think that when the very first sentient man came to be, he was at a point of complete and total peace. The same which we all pursue. Sure, there are a lot of names to it. Success, Respect, Recognition, Popularity, what have you. But, take a moment and think; What changed? Did he decide to evolve even more? Did he just slowly come down from his throne, step by step, just so that he may experience the joy of the climb once again? I like to think it is the latter. Why? Because that is what someone who's experienced true success would do. Relive the experience. The satisfaction of the kill is in the thrill of the hunt.
My father always tells me " It is about the journey. We know the destination as it is, why be so psyched about it?" When I was a kid, my mother once asked me if I would learn Classical Indian music. I really did not know what that question meant but I was appointed a wonderful teacher and taught vocal for 6 years. And then, I was made to stop because of medical reasons. When I was in high school, my father suggested I learn swimming, since it is a good exercise for the body. I declined and requested to let me learn skating since it seemed more fun, but swimming it was to be. I learnt swimming for a few months and then once again, medical reasons got in the way. During my last years of high school, my dad made me join Tae-Kwon-Do classes. I was initially reluctant but once I started getting good at it, I really had fun. Then, my schooling got to a really serious point and I stopped going.
Today, if you ask me to sing, I'll happily pick up one of my favorites and do it, however the rendition might turn out to be. If you ask me to join you in the pool for a few laps, I will gladly do so. If you show me a punching bag, I'll be more than happy to kick it. I do all these not because I'm good at them, but because I enjoy doing all those things. I write a lot of short stories and poems in more than one language. Recently, I've been even working on a full fledged 3-part novel of which I'm about halfway done with the 2nd part. I draw at times and if I'm with my mother, I try to learn how to paint. My mother is an awesome artist in her own right, by the way. If I'm home, I try to help dad out with the various electrical repairs he does around the house. All this, because I enjoy doing a lot of things. It makes life interesting. It spices things up, so to speak.
One may have a lot of things he finds doing fun, but he will always give his heart out to one and only one thing. And for me, that thing is this right here. English writing. One day I want to be an author. I want to be able to write in any and every kind of genre. I want kids to talk about me as I've talked about J.R.R.Tolkein or George R.R.Martin or J.K.Rowling. I want not fame, but satisfaction. I want to tell myself "You did good" in my last moments. I don't want to think back and recollect"Damn, I worked too much". I don't believe in regrets, because at one moment it was exactly what you wanted. But guilt, is a worrisome thing. It kills us from the inside out.
I write so much from my life in everything not because I like talking about myself, but because I'm the one person I know best and I believe if you don't take time to know yourself, no one else will care to. One should not have to hear, ever, from anyone else as to how he should live his life. But suggestions are free, aren't they? So, here's mine. Explore. Live. Travel. Fail. Learn. Love. and above all, know what you love about this world and pursue it with all your being. People will automatically look up to you. If we aren't pillars for the future, what are we?
I like to think that when the very first sentient man came to be, he was at a point of complete and total peace. The same which we all pursue. Sure, there are a lot of names to it. Success, Respect, Recognition, Popularity, what have you. But, take a moment and think; What changed? Did he decide to evolve even more? Did he just slowly come down from his throne, step by step, just so that he may experience the joy of the climb once again? I like to think it is the latter. Why? Because that is what someone who's experienced true success would do. Relive the experience. The satisfaction of the kill is in the thrill of the hunt.
My father always tells me " It is about the journey. We know the destination as it is, why be so psyched about it?" When I was a kid, my mother once asked me if I would learn Classical Indian music. I really did not know what that question meant but I was appointed a wonderful teacher and taught vocal for 6 years. And then, I was made to stop because of medical reasons. When I was in high school, my father suggested I learn swimming, since it is a good exercise for the body. I declined and requested to let me learn skating since it seemed more fun, but swimming it was to be. I learnt swimming for a few months and then once again, medical reasons got in the way. During my last years of high school, my dad made me join Tae-Kwon-Do classes. I was initially reluctant but once I started getting good at it, I really had fun. Then, my schooling got to a really serious point and I stopped going.
Today, if you ask me to sing, I'll happily pick up one of my favorites and do it, however the rendition might turn out to be. If you ask me to join you in the pool for a few laps, I will gladly do so. If you show me a punching bag, I'll be more than happy to kick it. I do all these not because I'm good at them, but because I enjoy doing all those things. I write a lot of short stories and poems in more than one language. Recently, I've been even working on a full fledged 3-part novel of which I'm about halfway done with the 2nd part. I draw at times and if I'm with my mother, I try to learn how to paint. My mother is an awesome artist in her own right, by the way. If I'm home, I try to help dad out with the various electrical repairs he does around the house. All this, because I enjoy doing a lot of things. It makes life interesting. It spices things up, so to speak.
One may have a lot of things he finds doing fun, but he will always give his heart out to one and only one thing. And for me, that thing is this right here. English writing. One day I want to be an author. I want to be able to write in any and every kind of genre. I want kids to talk about me as I've talked about J.R.R.Tolkein or George R.R.Martin or J.K.Rowling. I want not fame, but satisfaction. I want to tell myself "You did good" in my last moments. I don't want to think back and recollect"Damn, I worked too much". I don't believe in regrets, because at one moment it was exactly what you wanted. But guilt, is a worrisome thing. It kills us from the inside out.
I write so much from my life in everything not because I like talking about myself, but because I'm the one person I know best and I believe if you don't take time to know yourself, no one else will care to. One should not have to hear, ever, from anyone else as to how he should live his life. But suggestions are free, aren't they? So, here's mine. Explore. Live. Travel. Fail. Learn. Love. and above all, know what you love about this world and pursue it with all your being. People will automatically look up to you. If we aren't pillars for the future, what are we?
