Living Like A 'MOSAIC'?

 

That deep human instinct, to be adored, chosen, lauded, recognized and stand out, we CAN'T deny that's naturally embedded within us.   BUT somewhere along the way, in that act of asking [OR at least craving] for love from the world, we begin carving off pieces of WHO we are.  We end up offering fragments of ourselves, hoping that someone will say 'THIS IS ENOUGH'.  UNTIL one day we'll realize that we have become a MOSAIC of other people's expectations [BUT likely, none of it feels right, right???

On the other hand, I always admire people WHO would wear their identities like a second skin LIKE their wardrobes unmistakably theirs, many times even with their own playlists curated. On the other hard, for those WHO get 'hostaged' by others, one could end up LIKE a collage of borrowed things  Trying on versions of oneself like outfits in a fitting room, hoping that one might [FINALLY] fit.  WHAT I did learn is that people with a strong sense of identity are better-equipped to face life with confidence and certainty

Looking back, I realized WHY at times in the past, I felt quite lost [WHEN I wanted to be LIKE everyone else].  LIKE you wanted to listen to the playlist of your colleague next to your desk.  LIKE we sometimes envied the sartorial elegance of others.  LIKE at times we want to do cool things that can impress people?  Truth is, there is something bone-deep exhausting about constantly shape-shifting for the sake of belonging.  We end up becoming fluent in others' preferences💚💛💜

One realization that surprises me till now is that there is something kind of 'bone-deep' exhausting about constantly shifting for the sake of that so elusive 'belonginess'.  In the end, we become fluent in other people's preferences, like an actor WHO's learned every script BUT forgotten one's voice.  YES, we end up good at our performance BUT that performance never ends💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  This all boils down to the paradox of choices we make.  As we live in a world of infinite paths and endless possibilities, we end up LIKE we can be anything BUT choosing one thing means grieving the thousands we DIDN'T.   And WHEN everything seems possible, nothing feels certain.  In the end, we might be asking ourselves if ever we are in that 'right path' OR is there an alternate version of us, 'THAT ONE' WHO chose differently, hoping to live a better life.  And WHILE choice is freedom, in practice, it can feel LIKE a quite paralysis.  BUT maybe the point ISN'T to choose the perfect life and maybe the magic lies in choosing a life WHICH is yours [and NOT A MOSAIC]😡😡😡