Beneath The Layers: Personal Description

When I first got this assignment, I was at a loss as to how to proceed with it. However, as I began to internalize it, I realized that it’s an opportunity to get to know myself better. I look upon this as an opportunity to bare my soul and as a time for self-reflection and introspection.

So, who am I beneath all my layers?

I never really thought about it until this very moment when I sit furiously typing away at my laptop. In essence, I’m this little girl stuck in an adult woman’s body. I might be eating the most sumptuous meals in the most exotic locations of the world, but I’ll never stop craving for my mother’s home cooked meals. I might be living in the most comfortable of apartments, but nothing could ever replace the warmth and safety of my mother’s arms. Few would call me a typical Mama’s girl. Perhaps, I am. But, I’ve always taken pride in being called that because whatever I am today, I am because of her. The values and beliefs that she inculcated in me as a child molded me into the person that I am today.

I believe it is more important to be a good human being than being successful. Being compassionate and empathetic is pivotal to a person’s growth. My mother always tells me that I should always choose to be kind, even when others aren’t. I’ve seen my mother practice that all her life even when confronted with situations wherein I would have certainly lost my cool had I been in her place. That’s another reason why I admire her so much. But, I also believe that my kindness should never be seen as a weakness. There have been occasions when the ones who misinterpreted my silence as a sign of weakness awakened the sleeping lioness within me and saw a side of me that warned them to never mess with me in future.

I have the passion and the zeal to succeed in life but never at the cost of my relationships. I am ambitious in the sense that I want to be independent without having to rely on anyone for anything in life. For me, friends and family would always come first. I am a fiercely loyal person. If I am friends with someone, I would be their friend for life. I would do everything for the ones I consider close and maybe that’s part of the reason I often meet with disappointment when it comes to friendships. I expect too much because I would be willing to do that much for them. However, over time I’ve changed my perspective. I’ve now come to the conclusion that everyone loves differently. The way I choose to show my appreciation for a person might not be the way they choose to reciprocate. But that doesn’t mean that the love isn’t there.

If I have to describe myself I cannot do so without mentioning my intense love for exploring new and uncharted territories. I’m committed to the goal of travelling at least 60% of the world by the age of 70, if my health and other such extrinsic factors permit me. Irrespective of the amount of money I’ll earn yearly, I’ve decided to save a portion every year so as to indulge my travel urges at least once a year. Some might call it a far-fetched dream, but I know myself enough to know that it’s one dream that will be fruitful. When as a part of the XIME course curriculum, I got the opportunity to travel to Europe, the traveler in me rejoiced. I remember relishing every moment that I spent discovering different facets of the European cultures.

The little things in life make me the happiest. For example, the cackle of a baby’s laughter, a steaming hot cup of tea, the way a friend’s face lights up on seeing me after a long time, the way my father brims over with pride when introducing me to his friends and colleagues all these little moments add up to be the real treasures of life. I enjoy taking walks alone in the evenings. It’s partly because even though I’m an extrovert, I need an hour to myself every day to re-energise and partly because the sheer beauty of nature like the clear blue sky, or the smell of rain-soaked earth after a heavy shower, or how the pristine blue sea sometimes meets the crisp, blue sky leave me awestruck. There are times when being around people exhausts me. It is in those moments that I need to be on my own, far away from the noise around me so as to listen to the voice within me. In those moments, I sometimes write about everything that’s bothering me. Writing has proved to be cathartic for me invariably. As I continue to write, I realize there’s still so much about me that’s yet to be discovered, so much that I would still like to see myself achieve. But, that’s for another time, for another assignment. For now, I’ll just say that the warrior within me will always strive to become who she’s meant to be without losing sight of who she already is.