The way I am...

Recent events (as all recent events have a tendency to do so) compel me, well actually, inspire me to write a post which is mainly for the benefit of all the readers who stumble upon my blog expecting, I don't know what exactly, but here's breaking it down for you- the way I am.

I am the Ratfinkle.

I am an oddball. I was supposed to embrace life one way, but I went ahead, took a sharp-right turn and hurtled along a path that many will not understand. Or in fact want to understand.

I am an artist. I draw and paint and animate and draw some more. That is my life. Nothing can inspire me more more than that. For those who think I waste my time studying a hobby, all I have to say is that you are a sad bunch of people who never had the guts to do something like this yourself. People with talent like mine are hard to come by and I am proud of that!

My thoughts and ideals are not exactly normal. Or should say, not exactly Malayalee. Many of my Mallu christians who see the life I lead may think that I choose not to observe 'the correct' path or that I am setting myself up to think or act rashly because I think and act differently. And also because I have not seen enough of the world to decide what's good and bad. But actually, I have had the opportunity to see a side of this world that many never will, rich with it's people and colours that may blind others who are not open to it. And like my favorite line form 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'(yep, that's right) "believe me when I say there is more good in it than bad."
Although like always, I know that people may choose to ignore this line completely.

***

I am different. I always knew that. From the day I saw The Little Mermaid when I was 8-yrs old and decided that that is what I am going to do for the rest of my life. I knew I wasn't going to do things the normal way and I am glad for that.

I am open. With my heart and my mind. In the last 21 years of my life (and yes that is a considerable amount of time to observe and learn), I have to come to realize that even those things that should have been the most solid and stable happened to be things that fell apart just like everything and everybody else. I am open to chances. How will we learn if we never try?

I am not ashamed of the person I have become, the things I have learned and the people I choose to associate myself with. My life has been moulded because of all these factors.

I love life. I intend on living it and not pretending to do so.

I am the Ratfinkle. Accept me for who I am. I do not intend on changing.

A thought...

"To be effective designers for social impact, we have to be humble listeners and fearless leaders, all at the same time, which is no easy feat. But I think this next generation of designers has the potential to do both, and my sincere hope is that design education rises to meet their expectations" - excerpt from an interview on core77.

How true. It is even my sincere hope that design education rises to the task of not mass producing the next batch of tool operators, but strives to bring forth people who at least think before they ink.

And he shall be my Squishy..

During the course of our lives here on this planet we come across many people from all types of cities, backgrounds, views and interests. And from among them, many move on from our lives and we may, in all probability, never see them again. But there are a few whom we will never forget for they have truly left their mark, either in our minds or in our hearts.

This post I write for one such friend. I have known him for a little over a year now and I am proud to say that he is one of my best friends. I have never met a person so blatantly honest about who he is. He loves without fear and that is a quality I deeply admire. He is the only person I know who is so dedicated to looking out for dog-kind that he jumped right into a garbage dump to help a creature in need, even though said creature really didn't appreciate his help. How often do you find people like that?
If there was ever a person who has helped me see the other side of any situation, it's him. He keeps telling me, "Why the hell do you care about what this 'society' would think?! Why are you afraid?" Truth is Kela, there are a lot of things that I have grown up to believe are the important ones and one of those things included what everyone else thought. I guess I never had the strength to believe that I could make it my own and that it was okay to think and act differently. I hope to gain that strength one day.

And true, there are other people who might have a better measure of the person you are, my baby Kela, but I like the person I have come to know. I am honestly glad you badoda shnaa-ed your way into my life.

Much love and noise :)
Jemma-Jay Leno-hammer