Is This Really Living? A reflection Against the Life We Were Handed
There are moments when life suddenly feels strange and unfamiliar. It might happen while walking home at night, or while staring at the ceiling after a long day, or while sitting alone in a room that feels too small for all the thoughts inside your head. A question arrives suddenly. Is this really what living means? Not living as defined by society or tradition. Not living according to the expectations of family or culture. Living as in the life your inner self actually wants. Most people begin performing long before they understand the meaning of performance. Children learn very quickly that pleasing adults brings rewards. A smile. A small praise. A feeling of being accepted. So we shape ourselves around what others want to see. We change the way we speak. We hide the feelings that earn disapproval. We pretend to enjoy things that earn applause. Without fully noticing it, the mask becomes a medium for survival. By the time adulthood arrives, the mask feels almost natural...