We are What We Were (WWWW)

We are What We Were

A statement that had fell on my ears long ago, but I never truly understood the same until very lately.

It took me a while to understand that this phrase was much different then, 'An apple does not fall far from his tree,'

An incident that took place in my life that made me realize that I am not disconnected from my ancestors and that I would always be what I use to be. But what we become is always what we choose and not what we were. The choices we make define us, but we are still somewhere what we use to be.

I don't blame the once who are not getting the sentiments behind these statements, as it is hard to digest and difficult to visualize what I am trying to say.

Let me break down this for you. 

I am born in a typical South Indian middle-class family, and I was taught some values and traditions from the southern part of India. I was raised in Kandivali, a region in Mumbai. Both my parents were working, which was not very common in those days. So, you understand why I said that they gave me some values and traditions. I spent most of my time with my friends from school or society, of which only a few or a handful were South Indians. In my thirty-two years of life, I would have befriended a handful of South Indians. Why am I stressing so much on all this? Probably, in the end, it might be more clear.

So there was something that happened the last year 2017 march that changed something in my life. I would not share what incident occurred, but I would surely say what happened after that.

I visited my native place, my hometown Kerala. I had visited Kerala before as well, but this time it was different. The lush green fields, the freshness in the air, the sound of the birds, and the heartfelt music. It was like a true calling. I felt as if I am back in the place where I belong. I am more Mumbaitie than a Keralite by any means. Then why did I feel at home? Why did I feel nostalgic?

How these thoughts mattered to me? I heard a song that my father used to play a lot when I was a kid, and this time it took me back to those days.

Not my childhood days but much before that. As if I could see my father's childhood in Kerala, the one I have never seen in real life. That moment, that very instance I realized, I am not just what I did in these 32 years but much more than that. It is still there, the memories of my forefathers somewhere hidden deep within me. The human brain is a mystery, and we would never be able to find its true capabilities. At least, I believe I would not be alive till then.

But till then, we have to dig deep down into our memories that we have never seen from our eyes. It's not that we cannot find those memories in our brain, it's just that it's hidden deep down that it's not that clear to us.

We don't just realize that they are still with us. Is it just the genes that they gave us. What if there is more than that? What if we could remember the moments that we haven't spent? What if I tell you there is more to it then the DNA?

What if I tell you We are what we were once?

Does it mean that we cannot change what we once were? Of course, we can, our decisions decide what we could be. A thief's son does not necessarily be a thief.

An apple does not need to fall near the tree. Did I confuse you or clear your thoughts?