U is for . . . Unique



Image Courtesy: Raj Manchekar

My sweet hijos,

U is for Uniform, a set of clothing that you, La Niña, are very familiar with. I have always loved wearing uniforms. I like the fact that they help instill a sense of belonging, equality and community in a group of people.

But uniforms can also have another effect. They can make you feel one in a crowd in a world which goes out of its way to make you feel ordinary and insignificant. When life makes you feel unappreciated, I want you to remember another U word, Unique, which describes "YOU" far better.

I'm not just saying this because I am your mother. I really believe this of you and me and everyone else besides. Each of us was made unique.

Most people, however, abandon the promise of their baby-selves to become prisoners on a conveyor belt. They forget that we are born with immense potential of mind, body and spirit. Such treasures are not to be shrugged off for the privilege of getting membership of the herd.



Therefore, stand tall and take joy in who you are. Strive to be better, to improve yourself. 

Don't let anyone mould you into a carbon copy of someone else.

Don't believe anyone who tells you that you are ordinary, too fat, thin, short, tall, bucktoothed, knock-kneed. 

Don't allow them to bind you into their straitjackets.

Don't let them fit you into the stereotypes they choose for you.

You do not have to fit the constructs that Society has erected, nor do you need its approval to be who you are.

Let me share with you a valuable trick that one of my school teachers once taught me. She used to say, "Spend one minute in the morning looking at yourself in the mirror and saying aloud, 'I AM AN UNREPEATABLE MIRACLE.' For best results, repeat every morning."

You see, mis hijos, you are a composite of innumerable variables - your culture, nationality, health, age, experiences and attitudes to them, fingerprints, character traits, personality, beliefs, aspirations, goals, dreams, genes, viewpoints and talents. You were created on a grand scale. You are neither products of assembly line manufacturing nor cookie cutter creations.

My wish for you is that you may never lose sight of the fact that you were created to be unique. And because you are unique, I wish that you may allow others the freedom to be unique too. 

I also wish that you may use up every talent you have to the fullest. So the world is forced to acknowledge your extraordinariness and eat its own harsh words.

Be yourself. That's your one true destiny. Be the best You that you can be, and you'll always get a V-sign from me.

See you tomorrow.