A record of our existence #Iamlikeotherwomen

I remember the first time I said “I am not like other girls” rather conceited and full of myself. It was to a man who had made an observation about my “Independent” ways of being. Little did I know then, that as years would pass and many therapy sessions later, I will come to realise my “Independence” is not unique and virtuous, but a trauma response to unmet needs, lack of trust, and not having the vocabulary to ASK FOR HELP! well, that and many other societal conditioning that make us women uniquely quirky, awesome and all things fairy dust, we are together, EVERY WOMAN, in our world of consensual hallucinations.

Isn’t that a perfect opening to a “Women’s Day” post? I even added fairy dust and a Matrix analogy for theatrical effect. Firstly, thank you Maragathavalli Inbamuthiah for tagging me to change the narrative around “I am not like other women” a phrase that mostly subscribes to qualities like weakness, ignorance, a lack of courage, and a lack of responsibility.

Speaking of consensual hallucinations, as long as we adhere to the wrong and right doings prescribed by a certain culture, that which is based on climatic conditions, natural resources, geographical evolution and then onward to religion, so on and so forth… one step out and we are quick to judge and as it's aptly said, quick judgements are antithetical to curiosity. So, the next time I hear a woman say “I am not like other women” I’d beg her to be a little more curious.

In my moments of curiosity #iamlikeotherwomen, I’ve learnt that I am insecure and question my abilities from time to time, I am obsessive, I procrastinate (this post nearly took 2 weeks) I rest, I work, I run, I meditate, I bike and I love. I’ve made decisions that have brought me joy and some that have brought me lessons. Most importantly like other women, I want to connect, speak, speak out, sometimes even give an asshole equivalent opinion about everything there is to opine about. I am angry, petty, silly even. But, I’ll tell you this, like every woman, I will nourish and nurture despite my temperament. I will listen and make my best attempt to redo, and correct when needed. I will hold another human with love and tenderness when it's not their best day. I will make space for another woman and bring her name in spaces of opportunities, I, like other women wake up every day and I promise to show up as my best self, until, of course, someone cuts my lane then like other women, I will show the finger and yell an expletive, albeit always in my mind. So, to all my gorgeous fellow humans, I’d like to tell you this, before you judge yourself or anyone else….

I will leave that sentence there. You have already completed it in your head.

Your own, Rumi.

On that, yet another dramatic and abrupt ending, thank you for reading this far and feel free to take this tag ahead and tell me your moments of #iamlikeotherwomen.