The Original You

I had a shitty weekend. Major argument on Sat and decided I wont go to this musical concert on Sun - doesn't matter if I lose my $80 on it, I JUST WONT GO. Some people just don't know how to talk and don't know their limits with words. Such words are lethal to the system. So yeah I wont go. When I'm affected I'm affected so let me be. Till you realise what you said was plain cruel and downright ugly, I won't ever talk to you again. Don't always expect me to be a puppet on strings. This time I just cut the strings and now I'm lifeless in your play. Get that.

Now to the post. How do you usually indentify/introduce yourself? Doesnt matter who the audience is, just imagine this situation. You are given a microphone to say who you are. Alot of people will start with their origin - fair enough you've got to cherish where you come from. But are you really only that or many more? One of my friends always say 'I'm an Indian girl, very traditonal, I have a culture to preserve...etc' and I used to ask her this. Shelby are you really all Indian? Cos we are in this imaginary world sometimes forgetting the fact that though we are Indian/Sri Lankan/Chinese/English/Aussie/Canadian etc by origin, that we are really many more than just that. Have a look at this example of an Indian girl. Since the day she is born, she is brought up to believe that she is 'Indian'. That's true, by birth she is Indian. And she lives learning the Indian traditions and ways. But deep down she can have many other characteristics that may not necessarliy fall under the label 'Indian'. Is that a crime? I think not. Cos that's who she is. I'm a simple Sri Lankan woman when I'm in a Buddhist temple, I'm a fun-loving American woman when I'm at the pub with friends, I'm a sport-loving Aussie woman when I'm singing 'Waltzing Matilda' at the Olympics with friends, I'm a seductive Arabic woman when I do belly-dancing with my Turkish friends, I'm a family-loving Greek woman when I watch TV with my mother and aunt instead of going out with the boys, I'm a fashionable Italian woman when I fall in love with Dolce and Gabbana, I'm a gracfeul Indian woman when I wear the saree and light the lamp, I'm a hardworking Asian woman when I'm at work earning my dough, I'm a daring English woman when I'm bush-walking in the loneliest forests, I'm a tough African woman when I'm facing the harshest droughts in life, I'm a Russian ballerina when I put my dancing shoes on, I'm a sexy Brazilain woman when I'm at the beach in my cossies, I'm the carefree Islander woman when I'm with nature. I have every trait and I'm every woman. What matters is being who you are, not labeling/branding yourself to be one thing just cos of brand-loyalty. That doesn't mean you should be someone else, but it means don't be forced to hide what you are based on a passed label. Be proud of your origins but never let that loyalty cost you your originality.

I dedicate today's music to the best-known Australian ever Steve Irwin. Tears well up whenever I think of him and this time it's no crocodile tears. I don't think I'll ever get over Steve's death . He's one rare man who found his reason in this life. Guys I know that everyone dies, but Steve was not everyone.

Current Music: The Reason by Hoobastank