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Maybe I'm not meant to fly...

Erin Hanson's quote, "What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?" is probably a recurring thought in our heads when we hit a fork in the road. The uncertainty of whether we will manage to spread our wings in time and take flight is scary. Which is why so many of us find ourselves curled up and stepping back at this very moment. Such moments always remind me of His First Flight by Liam O' Flahert, one of the eloquently written narratives that was included in my 10th standard syllabus. I have found myself in this dilemma so many times that it's taken a lot of pep talk to push myself to take the leap. Several times, when things wouldn't go according to plan, I would start believing that I'm going for my fall and that I had made a wrong decision. Only to later realize that things had worked out and I emerged with a new lesson. I was definitely a very attentive student in 2023. This year was loaded with lessons in every nook and cranny.

Through my experience, I have realized that we have learned to be hyper-attuned to the results of every endeavor, which also translates to us barely living in the present. We are either in the past, hoping we hadn't taken the leap, or in the future, already living our downfall or success.




A major lesson I learned was that maybe I'm not meant to fly; maybe I'm not a seagull. It dawned on me that I had assumed everyone would be soaring to different altitudes, while I'm still like the indecisive seagull at the cliff. I had observed some flights and then generalized it to everyone, including myself. I realized that all of us aren't the same, even if we are all birds. We are different birds. And our journeys are no doubt unique and bound to differ from those of others, each with its own twist and turn. Once I understood this, I began to believe that perhaps I'm not meant to fly; perhaps I was meant to dive; perhaps I'm a penguin. Perhaps you're a penguin too, or an ostrich, or a peacock, or something exotic no one knows of. The fall looks scary, but that will soon turn into a dive into the ocean below if you're a penguin. I realized I've been focusing so much on the flying aspect that I began to dread the leap because of the fall that would be coming if I failed to fly.

If one is realistic and has put thought into their decision and is yet dithering because of the fall, especially the overthinkers, you need to trust yourself and your ability. And whenever Erin Hanson's quote rings in your head, you can shake off the fall aspect. Remember to tell yourself, "Maybe I'll dive."

I hope 2024 is filled with moments of joy for everyone.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024, EVERYONE 🎊🎊



                                                            

 -Alloysha Dias




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Picture courtesy: canva

Picture editing: Rachel Annie Dias




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