We all start off thinking that we’re all the same until we get into our teens and start craving the need to express our individuality.
Most of the time, that just means imitating our peers and role models. We concern ourselves with what other people think of us (sometimes overtly so).
As we grow into our twenties, we start realising that most people don’t really care about us or even notice us. Most of the time, they’re just too busy and we’re equally too busy to pay attention. This is also the same time when we find out that we’re not much different from everyone else, and we become lost in the sea of people. The illusion of being the centre of the universe has faded. We try to impress our friends (and sometimes even strangers) in a desperate attempt to be noticed, but no matter how many Facebook likes you get or Instagram followers you have, you always come to the realisation that you’re nothing special.
But as we grow older still, we keep persevering and we eventually find things that are unique to us individually. You start forming an identity and stop being just like other people. People may not notice the little details about yourself, but these details are what make you you. Perhaps you like to take travel solo or you like to draw little comic strips.
You are back to expressing your individuality, but this time, it is less about emulation and more about the quirks that are unique to you.
Eventually, after a few years of soul searching, you make peace with your situation. You may not become a famous celebrity, but it doesn’t bother you at all. You’ve learned to let go of things. Grudges seem so stupid now. Got your heart broken again? You aren’t even going to cry this time. You’re older now and you watch the next generation of people repeat the same journey you’ve just made. And you’re fine with all of that, because you wouldn’t be who you are now if you didn’t try it all when you were younger, too. It might be sad to see the next generation make the same mistakes as you did, but it is their world now, and their lessons to learn on their own.
It is no longer about caring what people think of you. It’s about doing what you always wanted to do. But this time, instead of simply just wanting to do it, you go and do it. And here’s a crazy thought, maybe this time you won’t even bother posting about it on Facebook. You simply ran a 5K because that’s what you decided to do this month. You eat at a fancy pants restaurant without taking pictures of your food. You went to a holiday without letting anyone know about it. You simply stop doing things for other people in a self-serving way, and start doing things for yourself just for yourself.
And perhaps someday when you’ve gotten all of that out of the way, you start building. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a new family, a new business, or even a new house. You create something and leave your mark on this world. What that may be is up to you to decide.
