Feb.22.24 - Day 1971 - Being Indian

Being Indian is unique. It feels different than other cultures. One built on family, marriage and kids. Indians prioritize education when you’re young. Maybe it’s just the immigrant mentality, but there is a relentless work ethic that’s ingrained in us from an early age. Through that we learn to follow our parent’s dreams, no matter what they want for us. That works until we become an adult when we realize that following that path isn’t going to make us happy. Most of us choose to follow it anyway and pick a life that our parents wanted, but not us. A few of us choose to do something different and in the process, choose to go against their wishes. That’s a lonely place because disobeying them goes against everything you’ve ever believed in. Sometimes they choose to accept your decisions and other times they don’t. Growing older without being married is a black mark on you in the eyes of them and their friends. Indian parents like to talk and subconsciously compete with other families as to who has the best kids. When you’re older and haven’t found someone, it becomes a black mark, especially if you’re a girl. Yet, they aren’t living your life. You are. We live in a different world than our parents but sadly some of them still ant to live in the past. They still want to raise you the way they were brought up. Don’t mind it, they’re just doing their best.

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