Would You Want To Be Some One Else?
Judy Ramsook
April 11, 2006
One does not have to look too far to see that most people do not like who they are. They are always looking for ways to reinvent themselves, make themselves better or enhance some part of their physical being that they are not comfortable with.
Upon celebration of his eightieth birthday, Playboy magazine founder, Hugh Heffner recently stated that he would not want to trade places with anyone. Such a comment might stun many older persons among us who are in search of the fountain of youth, but if you say happened upon some magical being who could transform you into anyone you would want to be, would you take advantage of such an opportunity? Or are you happy being who you are, right now, wherever you happen to be in life?
I do not condone slavery but sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Columbus had not sailed the world. Would my parents have known that the other existed if their ancestors had not been brought to the western world from India? Would they have met, fallen in love, married and had me if Columbus had not come along and changed the world? Would I have been able to live in a world where there is no running water, electricity and modern conveniences, given what I know now?
I might not be perfect, but I do become frustrated when there is a little power failure or interruption in my internet service, so no, I do not think I would manage too happily in a society that is void of those luxuries.
Also, I might not have attended one of the most prestigious colleges in the world, but I am grateful that I could have made use of such an opportunity.
In some societies in the world, some women are not encouraged to be educated. Would I want to trade places with anyone I look up to though is an entirely different matter.
The answer to which will be no. I happen to like being who I am and where I am in life today. For, if I were some one else my life would have been different with probably five plus kids and stuck in some arranged marriage that some people may think is an exciting and fulfilling life.
Of course there is nothing wrong with leaving parts of one’s DNA behind, but more importantly, what one has to ask him or herself is, is that what he or she would want?
Sometimes, no matter who or where you are, you just got to be you. Life can be more interesting that way.
Upon celebration of his eightieth birthday, Playboy magazine founder, Hugh Heffner recently stated that he would not want to trade places with anyone. Such a comment might stun many older persons among us who are in search of the fountain of youth, but if you say happened upon some magical being who could transform you into anyone you would want to be, would you take advantage of such an opportunity? Or are you happy being who you are, right now, wherever you happen to be in life?
I do not condone slavery but sometimes I wonder what would have happened if Columbus had not sailed the world. Would my parents have known that the other existed if their ancestors had not been brought to the western world from India? Would they have met, fallen in love, married and had me if Columbus had not come along and changed the world? Would I have been able to live in a world where there is no running water, electricity and modern conveniences, given what I know now?
I might not be perfect, but I do become frustrated when there is a little power failure or interruption in my internet service, so no, I do not think I would manage too happily in a society that is void of those luxuries.
Also, I might not have attended one of the most prestigious colleges in the world, but I am grateful that I could have made use of such an opportunity.
In some societies in the world, some women are not encouraged to be educated. Would I want to trade places with anyone I look up to though is an entirely different matter.
The answer to which will be no. I happen to like being who I am and where I am in life today. For, if I were some one else my life would have been different with probably five plus kids and stuck in some arranged marriage that some people may think is an exciting and fulfilling life.
Of course there is nothing wrong with leaving parts of one’s DNA behind, but more importantly, what one has to ask him or herself is, is that what he or she would want?
Sometimes, no matter who or where you are, you just got to be you. Life can be more interesting that way.
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