Not Perfect. Just Complete.

Going against the wind takes stamina. Flowing with it might be easier. As a little girl I didn’t know enough to know all these then, all I knew was I struggled between the need to comply with what was set out for me as good and my urge to go where I wanted to.?Sometimes I questioned, I wandered and found ideas that shifted existing norms. It was lonely and at times it was scary too. On one such days after arguments and tears I came to the Banyan tree where I always played … my grandfather was sitting there in his easy chair enjoying the nature. He looked at me and asked why I looked sad?

With tear filled eyes waiting to roll down and feeling like a total unfit I told him how others wanted me to be something I don’t want to be. And I shared how I am struggling to disagree, because it is exhausting. Should I fall in line? Will that make it easy for everyone around? I was confused. He looked at me with so much love, brought me closer to him , held my hand and asked me to look into my palms – he asked if all the 5 fingers were the same? I said no. He replied – “precisely, if they were all the same then they will not have the collective strength to do what your hand is doing now. If anyone of your finger was afraid to be different and decided to be exactly like its neighbour – will that work for you ? . And he continued … “the answer to the question you hold is right in your hand”. He said with a smile and paused.

To a 11-year-old girl that simple logic made a lot of sense. ?I looked into my tiny palm. Wiped the tears off and went back to play.

When I look back , that was my first diversity and inclusion insight I received in life. He continued to encourage me to be who I want to be, ?not who others think I am. That was very reassuring to me.

Last month we celebrated his centennial year and as I walked down my memory lane, I recollected this incident again.

This is an insight that will continue to shape me to become who I am becoming. Every time, I felt ?I was not fitting in, I look into my palm, and fondly recollect the insight … And that would free me up from the pressure of falling in line, becoming someone or something that I am not and would give me the creative ability to shift my focus to being me and playing the unique role that I could play joyfully.

This is such an empowering place to be , where you feel complete not in comparison with anyone , just in connection to all things in this universe . Simply Complete.

Through the struggles at different times for different reasons, to be who I am I am learning to walk bravely, sing loudly, breath mindfully, learn gracefully and get inspired joyfully. It’s not perfect, it was never meant to be. Just complete, not perfect.

Being yourself means sometimes you are walking in a different path, singing a different song, and breathing in a different air, drawing inspiration from a different sky. It’s alright my grandfather said. I agreed with him as a 11-year-old then and I agree with him more now after all the experience life has gifted me with.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. – Ralph Emerson

I am sharing this as a gentle reminder to embrace our complete true self with love , as there is no other.