With each passing day, I realize that my boundaries are disappearing. I no longer feel the need to identify myself through a gender, a relationship, a label, a language, a religion, a nation or a world. I want to defend nothing except the freedom to be.

The urge and the ache to belong, to seek a kinship through sameness is disappearing. Suddenly, everyone seems a kindred soul, just with a varying degree. The differences draw me. The alternates fascinate. All labels seem restrictive and stale. I sense a deep need to stay free of attaching my passions too deeply to the point where it excludes other perspectives. There is a growing detachment and disenchantment for all forms of vehemency of belief, argument and practice. Others, and mine.

I am content to just be. To take people as they are. And, to be left alone to evolve the way I am, without impinging on another's natural freedom to be and to evolve. People are fascinating. All struggles and vulnerabilities are humbling including mine. Spontaneity and realness, kindness and wit, they remain forever attractive. How people express something is increasingly becoming important to me rather than what they are saying alone.

In my withdrawal, i sense a kindness to my own self which then I am able to pass on to others without depleting myself. My need for privacy is nothing but my genuine need for freedom to be and less about indifferent withdrawal. Empty rituals and notions of culture attract me even less than they used to. My identity i recognize, are not linked to those. I do not judge others who seek their identity through those, but i shall insist that i not be judged nor drawn into those against my will. I treasure the freedom to ponder more deeply on what i am evolving into. I treasure the freedom to know myself better, to make my own mistakes, to change my mind and my beliefs as I evolve without the need to justify either. And, I promise to treasure your freedom to be.

I feel a deep sense of gratitude to all the people who have lived before me and struggled to gift me this freedom to just be. And, I hope to add my little story in this vast struggle, for someone to thank me long after I am gone.

There is tremendous freedom in these simple words - Just be.

Just be and be freed.

Srividya Srinivsasan

15/08/2015