30 days writing challenge - day 4 - for Prateeksha

Dear Prateeksha,

Thank you for asking me to write about something I know is so personal to you. Something we’ve shared in common in that small girls’ / working women’s hostel in Delhi. Thank you for allowing and requesting me to write about our ambitions, our dreams, our struggles and so much more. 

It’s been a privilege to witness your journey briefly and to be able to share mine. Of course, not to say that I am grateful to you for the support you and our other roommate (name withheld since I didn’t have time to ask her if she’s OK being mentioned publicly). It’s an even greater pleasure to be asked to write about those times.

So, I think there are a few things that I want to point out to you about small-town girls/boys having big dreams in a big city and their struggle and desire to achieve everything. First things first, we may be from small towns, people like you and me, we are not small in our being. We are people with the same spark of superconscious or the divine as is there in every other human being. 

In fact, there are a few advantages to being a small-town person. We are able to dream because there are things we haven’t experienced. At the same time, we are able to stay grounded, because we have seen what it is to want for nothing, and yet not have access to luxuries.We have dreams, ambitions and we are on journeys we often don't understand and can't cope with. We travel those paths nevertheless.

 

While our struggles of hunting for jobs, our problems with communications skills, our hungry hostel nights, our lavish meals of the simple menu in the picture below are common and shared, we each have our unique personalities. (Side note, remember this night? I still do :D ) While some of these struggles are also shared by big city girls and boys, a lot of times, their journeys may seem easier than ours.

Important however it is, to remember, that a city doesn’t make your journey easy or difficult. Coming from privilege or not doesn’t change the essence of your journey. What does it is your value system, your ability to adapt, your ability to share, give. I am not even comparing this with the journeys of the young people raised by families in large cities. I don't think we need to do that sweetie.

Remember, it isn’t a competition. Life isn’t about a competition Prat, it’s about finding more of yourself with every passing day. It is about remembering that some may have more privilege than you. It is also remembering about how there are others less privileged than you. 

The ability to speak of the fact that we had small homes and limited sets of clothes while growing up, is the real challenge. The ability to not be ashamed of our relatively humble origins is the key. The ability to remember that there are those who come from more humble origins and have achieved far greater things is the inspiration. The ability to talk of it without any complexes, superiority or inferiority is the real challenge in my opinion. 

I have seen you evolve from a young struggling adult to this wonderful, confident woman you’ve grown to be. I would say you’re a rockstar and continue being yourself. 

Be more giving, tread more gently, don't lose your spark, keep working hard and smart and enjoy the ride kiddo!

Much Love,

Anupama Di

© Anupama 2018