There are times I stare at myself in the mirror, for just a moment, it feels like I'm staring at a different version of myself. We humans go through different phases and stages of life, as we move through we face different kind of challenges that shapes us to who we will eventually become, either for the better or worst, it is growth regardless. Growth is one the terms I have spent considerable amount of time and effort defining but it never fits, it is one word with so many meanings. When I look at myself and see how far I have gotten, i wonder how I have been able to make it this far. They were times life feels so tough and stuffy to the extent everything becomes unmovable. Like the universe itself is after my peace of mind but somehow, I navigate through the chaos and emerge a different version of myself. It is indeed fascinating when I think about how much a human being can endure.
if I were to meet my younger self, I would pat him on the back, look him in the eyes and say to him, "You have done well". We have both been through considerable amount of pain and yet we keep going. There were days we thought it would probably be the end but we pulled through. I would give him a hug, hold him close and tight, with a heart full of warmth, to compensate him for days we had no one to hold our hands, for days we had no one to be there for us, for days we had to be there for ourselves. I wouldn't waste my time advising him because he doesn't need it, if he could make it this way, believe me he did something right. I wouldn't warn him of mistakes because whatever mistake that was made, made me the man I became today. It turned into lessons that empowered me to paddle harder because I wasn't handed anything, every step I took was bled for. I wouldn't try to shame him of his actions because I know we had very little resources at hard and we did the best we could with it. I would just sit with him, knowing how lonely he felt while growing up, even if it is just for a brief moment, I would be there for him and every single time I would remind him, "we made it eventually, we did it". Probably the thought of this will put a smile on his sorrowful face, knowing every sacrifice made was worth it.
This write-up was inspired by Indiaunited contest titled "If you could meet your younger self, what would you say?" in indiaunited community.
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