Thank you for sharing your personal accounts and including your confusion and vulnerability. It's Beautifully written Mishti, I felt like I was sitting in a room with you and having a late night conversation... the type of conversation you have from 11pm and suddenly you realize it's sunrise because you lost track of time.
The journey of self reflection is layered with life experiences and expectation from others and the ones we place upon ourselves unwillingly. The challenges are confusing when we are young and every generation can relate in retrospect, that young girl still hides behind the eyes of a 90 year old wanting to be recognized and loved. We are forever trying to form our identity and never truly accepting our reflection and strengths. We continue to be burden with expectation from our cultural identity, faith, politics and loved ones (but it doesn't have to be this way.) We look for validation from the outside and the media and society support the narrative... there lies the problem. You can't run away from it, it's written in books, in the movies and the endless stream of social media..I guess that why meditation has become a global trend.
The pressure hunts you down in the library and even when your backpacking... Yes, I've been there myself. The inner voices compromise your mental health and clearly others benefit from the consumerism...validation is always a click away! But you do have a choice to not give a S*@$
How beautiful is it to have a moment and pause to self reflect and make a conscious decision that you want something different and you can pivot and take back total control. No one said it's easy but its going to be amazing when we accept what's in our control. Getting rid of my mustache as a light skin Pakistani changed my life and my confidence:) Please continue to write and share.
Perused the post with a bit of pessimism, hoping that this wasn't a polemical piece by the Purity Posse pursuing Pinker!
'beauty in all colors' is a wonderful article tackling such a topical subject. Hate to admit it, but we all have a bit of bigotry & racism hardwired in us. The article subtly explains how we can change for the better.
Lucidly written, the audio narrative is a pleasant addition. My takeaway from the article is neatly summarised at the end; "Slowly, I hope, my gaze grows kinder".
This needs to reach the audience whose mindsets stink of "racism" - because that's where change is required. Most certainly those are the people who need to understand the true meaning of beauty which is beyond color caste creed race ethnicity. Well done Mishti - God bless you for such intelligence and hope HE also creates relevant channels for your thought to expand and reach where the real change is required. I feel that the key to a successful change in rotted mindsets will only come through education - the current content needs a major overhaul - including storybooks and curriculum.
Mishti you have my respect and admiration for the beautiful human you are. Very well articulated, it touches the core... of one’s soul as much as the issue. You are beautiful when you feel and think beautiful!
Beautiful and very thoughtfully written. Beauty is the very bright light that shines from within, it is the sparkle in your eyes and the soulful smile on your happy face. Keep up the great work...Vini
This post resonates so much with my experience. I also grew up feeling like I could not possibly be good looking because I was black. I was jealous of my brother whose hair was not as kinky and looked more white. I just felt he was better looking. I will never get how stunned--and validated-- I was as a high school senior to find that the (white) mother of one of my friends thought I was really good looking. I hadn't conceived that such a thing was possible. And the truth is if it had been a black person who had said that, it would not have carried the same weight. That a white woman thought I was good looking was the ultimate compliment. I've come along way since then but I still struggle with these issues of color. Thank you for your honest and insightful sharing of your journey!
Thank you for sharing your personal accounts and including your confusion and vulnerability. It's Beautifully written Mishti, I felt like I was sitting in a room with you and having a late night conversation... the type of conversation you have from 11pm and suddenly you realize it's sunrise because you lost track of time.
The journey of self reflection is layered with life experiences and expectation from others and the ones we place upon ourselves unwillingly. The challenges are confusing when we are young and every generation can relate in retrospect, that young girl still hides behind the eyes of a 90 year old wanting to be recognized and loved. We are forever trying to form our identity and never truly accepting our reflection and strengths. We continue to be burden with expectation from our cultural identity, faith, politics and loved ones (but it doesn't have to be this way.) We look for validation from the outside and the media and society support the narrative... there lies the problem. You can't run away from it, it's written in books, in the movies and the endless stream of social media..I guess that why meditation has become a global trend.
The pressure hunts you down in the library and even when your backpacking... Yes, I've been there myself. The inner voices compromise your mental health and clearly others benefit from the consumerism...validation is always a click away! But you do have a choice to not give a S*@$
How beautiful is it to have a moment and pause to self reflect and make a conscious decision that you want something different and you can pivot and take back total control. No one said it's easy but its going to be amazing when we accept what's in our control. Getting rid of my mustache as a light skin Pakistani changed my life and my confidence:) Please continue to write and share.
Perused the post with a bit of pessimism, hoping that this wasn't a polemical piece by the Purity Posse pursuing Pinker!
'beauty in all colors' is a wonderful article tackling such a topical subject. Hate to admit it, but we all have a bit of bigotry & racism hardwired in us. The article subtly explains how we can change for the better.
Lucidly written, the audio narrative is a pleasant addition. My takeaway from the article is neatly summarised at the end; "Slowly, I hope, my gaze grows kinder".
This needs to reach the audience whose mindsets stink of "racism" - because that's where change is required. Most certainly those are the people who need to understand the true meaning of beauty which is beyond color caste creed race ethnicity. Well done Mishti - God bless you for such intelligence and hope HE also creates relevant channels for your thought to expand and reach where the real change is required. I feel that the key to a successful change in rotted mindsets will only come through education - the current content needs a major overhaul - including storybooks and curriculum.
Very well written. Straight from the heart about something that touches us all
Mishti you have my respect and admiration for the beautiful human you are. Very well articulated, it touches the core... of one’s soul as much as the issue. You are beautiful when you feel and think beautiful!
Beautiful and very thoughtfully written. Beauty is the very bright light that shines from within, it is the sparkle in your eyes and the soulful smile on your happy face. Keep up the great work...Vini
This post resonates so much with my experience. I also grew up feeling like I could not possibly be good looking because I was black. I was jealous of my brother whose hair was not as kinky and looked more white. I just felt he was better looking. I will never get how stunned--and validated-- I was as a high school senior to find that the (white) mother of one of my friends thought I was really good looking. I hadn't conceived that such a thing was possible. And the truth is if it had been a black person who had said that, it would not have carried the same weight. That a white woman thought I was good looking was the ultimate compliment. I've come along way since then but I still struggle with these issues of color. Thank you for your honest and insightful sharing of your journey!