The End of History Illusion

As you grow older, a few things start becoming apparent.

How the number of people you call your own shrinks, but conversations with these very people take on the flavour of an aged single malt; you savour every sip.

How people understand you less, assuming you are on your own trip. Perhaps you are. Personally, sometimes I thing I've been on other people's trips for far too long. Suddenly, looking out for myself has become everybody else's uncomfortable truth. At least its the truth.

Moreover, you fall in love with yourself. It's perhaps the only route to learning how to truly love and give. You know when to give yourself that pep talk and you know when someone needs it the most from you. You show yourself some tough love and know when to give yourself that space. You're okay, with you.

You gain perspective. Even if just saying that makes you sound 85, the fact of the matter is that many bridges have been crossed and while thousands more remain, you start looking at things a certain way. For instance, you know now that not everybody has a jovial heart and wants to laugh with you. And you also see that not every one is suffering in silence but rather, relishing every second of it. Suddenly, you know what Art Garfunkel meant. You crave silence.

You find someone who pushes you - you knows your deepest, darkest fears and your highest moments. And loves you enough to be there and hold your hand through good times and bad. Somehow, you feel you've known this person your whole life, and she you. Unlocked.

You will have disagreements of many kinds. Unfortunately, parents are among those people who will give you a hard time - maybe for no fault of theirs, or maybe because they simply don't understand. You take the first few steps to distance your hopes and dreams from vitiation. For they perhaps know not what they're doing to your soul. But you walk that thin line, trying not to fall short of your own dreams and those of the people who raised you. You let go.

Work is work. But the love of a craft or an art is different, and you know that. Don't give up on it. It's never too late to become that maestro.

Fulfilling a childhood dream could just be that figurative high you desperately needed. And not just a high, but a reminder of who you are. Like she once said, a reminder of things you hadn't even realised you wanted. It can still happen.

On that note, perhaps my biggest learning till date is this - that the end of history illusion is real and that things are going to transform way more than you've ever imagined. And that this is probably not the last time I'll pen my thoughts on things I've learnt from the vagaries of time..... feeling a lot older than my short but colourful 29 years.

And hence, while we are about it, you had might as well take that flight of fancy.

For you must.