I once went on a holiday to Switzerland. It was all so perfect. So tourist friendly. At a restaurant the person attending to you has a cheerful, plastic smile. They speak to you -like you are a 5-year old with below par intelligence – in a fake, bright, ‘do-you-understand-me-now-child’ voice. The buses and trains arrive just on time – not even a nanosecond late, mind you. The streets are spotless. The people are well behaved. No one makes noise. The scenery is picture postcard perfect! Snow clad Alps. Cows grazing the hills – their bells tinkling as they do so. It was all so good… that I felt suffocated! I hated every moment of it.
I don’t know if you can relate to me??
I love imperfections! And that’s why I love my India and its people. We are so…. ah what’s the word…diverse? No two people are the same. I love the liveliness, the chaos, the street fights. They make me feel like I’m living in a real world, not Fairytopia for god’s sake! So I will tolerate when the train is late – because, well…it sometimes happens. I will tolerate if the street vendor cheats me – because this one time he outsmarted me – next time it will be my turn.
To err is human – so please do err!
Now why this DP? It’s because MS reminds me of the real world. It’s filled with so many different types of people. The cynic, the rude replier, the diplomat, the giggler, the couldn’t care less person, the philosopher, the gyan guru, the verbal diarrhea case, the passionate, the patriot, the advisor, the poet, the practical minded, the revolutionary, the thinker, chill pill person…and together we all make this a wonderful place. I feel like I’ve found a home here. And I’m loving it.
So let’s stop trying so hard to prove each other. Let’s just be ourselves and people will love us or hate us for the way we are. It really does not matter. Let’s just accept people as they are. With all their ideas and their little quirks. We are sure to form our little circle of friends here with people who share our wavelength. People who love us for our imperfections and our brand of madness.
So here’s a confession. I’m not better than you (thank God!). And I’m not even going to try and improve myself. This is me. If you accept me with my imperfections and quirks please be my friend.
I’m looking to paint a rainbow here and I seek all its beautiful colours. Wanna join the fun?
