Buns and Corners

I have known you since before you knew yourself. I have loved you even before I laid eyes on you. You were born into your tiny little world full of love and care even when chaos ensued outside. And I have grown to love you and care for you in pixels within a rectangular box. I have watched you smile and I have watched you totter unsteadily. I have watched you gobble up bits of food with two tiny little teeth. You probably, most definitely don’t know me. Just think of me as your aunt well wisher.

Yet, imma give you some advice:

1. None of us know any better, really. I am a grown ass woman of 28, who burns her fingers, wakes up at odd times. I cry out as loudly as I laugh. I probably do more stupid things than I do the right ones. I crack poor jokes and enjoy reading memes. Most of the times, I am confused at best. I think a lot of myself and sometimes too little. You may think it’s just me, it isn’t. You will soon realise, wisdom doesn’t always come with age. You may probably be wiser than us all.
2. Enjoy at all times. You don’t have to defer enjoyment because you are 60, nor do you have to defer responsibility because you are 15. It is a tricky task, but try to strike that balance. You may not always succeed but that’s okay. Fall. Get up. Walk again.
3. Do your homework. Always, regardless of your age. And do it on time. It’s going to be called differently. Assignments, projects, research. Call it what you want. Do it and be informed. Homework also doesn’t have to be done one way. It can be done in writing or reading or talking or maybe just observing and listening. You’ll figure it out.
4. Never lose your sense of wonder in your haste to grow up. There is a little child in everyone but most of us hide it. Don’t. That child in you lets you be curious and lets you dream. More than ever we need that.
5. The world presents confusing sets of rules. Don’t at all times follow them but also don’t at all times reject them. Always question. Question facts, mythology, stories, gossip. Question their source and intent, not to mention their reason for existence among others.
6. You are born into interesting times. We are sifting through facts disguised as propaganda and myths disguised as facts. But always know there are a zillion stories to one story and numbers can also sometimes lie depending on who is presenting them. It should be fun. We can all try and work it out together.
7. There are so many teams!!! Sports teams, ideological teams, mythological teams, national teams, political teams. World is sometimes organised chaos. Us sapiens, we categorise a lot. Introverts-extroverts, right-left, good-bad, male-female, tea-coffee. A word to the wise, its okay to switch teams and be in between teams in pursuit of justice and truth and evolution.
8. There are going to be different sets of expectations on you including the ones that you may probably place on yourself. That’s it. I don’t know how to manage any of them and it may overwhelm you a little bit and then a little bit more. Ask for it and you shall receive help and stay away for a bit from people and expectations that may affect your health.
9. Choose knowledge over beauty, style over fashion, eloquence over gossip and ideas over individuals. And choosing them interchangeably once in a while may help you cope with the world at times as well. I only say because beauty is truly in eyes of the beholder and is proportional to the “width” of the mind. Your style is unique to you, fashion is forever evolving and if you take my word, shopping is sometimes a true pain in the ass for you and for the environment – although flouting the rule once a year or so should be fun!!! Participate in conversations, listen actively, ask questions, talk about ideas and expand your mind. Talking about people and that too consistently, mark my words, mostly spell trouble.
10. Be comfortable with yourself and learn to enjoy your company!

And finally, you can throw this entire blog piece in the digital trash bin for the world may be different for you, you tiny person.