Who you are is enough. No need to be someone else!

GUEST COLUMN: Dr N Prabhudev
Bengaluru, March 12: Simple, yet a profound truth! I am myself, imperial, plain and true! I am many things—I am a man, a former child and a future skeleton. In a distant future I am a pile of dust. I a “son” and a “father “and now a grand One! I am this and I am that. My imperfections make me perfect. I am myself and never a shadow of myself!
May be I know what I am not rather than what I am! Throughout life we have been through a conditioning process that has created a mind-set overflowing with what I am not. Most of us have this toxic belief that we are not enough – not good enough, worthy enough, smart enough, rich enough, beautiful enough, lovable enough, and popular enough, etc. When are going to realise our worth?

Hardships reveal who you really are. How you treat people in need reveals who you are! Taking responsibility for your actions, owning up your mistakes and failures reveal who you are! You are a thousand things but everyone chooses to see the million things you are not. I do not mind being hated for who I am than be loved for who I am not! I am who I am, accept me, reject me, but I am still me. At the end of the day it’s just I, Me and Myself and the god!

When I was in school, I believed life was something that happens in college. College did happen. Yes, it was fun. I thought life would happen after the job! I became a heart surgeon and that seemed like the perfect expression for me. With a lot of hard work and team efforts, I took off. It was exciting and at times nerve-wracking.
I thought life would happen after marriage. Marriage happened. I learnt that the first duty of love is to listen. I am struck by its simplicity. And yet one hardly listens. The indifferent gaze is a perpetual farewell. I learnt to see beauty in Chaos!

One challenge after another, and in despair asked HIM – Where is this thing called Life?  Who am I in this? Why do I always seem to miss it? I heard a whisper: “This is life,  this is life! – Sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes wow, sometimes so-so, and it goes on. Moments are temporary. Memories are forever!

Suffer, learn, and grow. I suffer calmly, with dignity, and serenity. I have been bruised and battered, bent and broken! But into a better shape. I forgive myself for all the mess I created! Yes, I cannot forgive others for my mistakes!
It’s funny how good memories can make you cry. It’s funny how forever- never seems to last. It’s funny how friends can just leave when you’re down. It’s funny how when you need someone they never are around. It’s funny how people change.  It’s funny how so many lies are packed into one love letter. It’s funny how you can forgive but not forget. It’s funny how ironic life turns out to be.

I am convinced that the purpose of life is not merely to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate and to make some difference that you have lived and lived well.

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