The Labels They Gave Me

By Vaishnavi Mandle

You know what?!

People are so quick to judge, to criticize, and to jump to conclusions without giving it a second thought — that their misperceptions can mentally destroy a person.

They just don't care.

Here, I'm not only talking about the "society"

but even my family, so called friends, and the people closest to my heart.

“Oh, she's a wannabe.”

“She’s an attention seeker.”

“She’s too dramatic, man!”

They labelled me as they label price tags along with clothes.

I have always been misunderstood all my life.

I am the most emotional person one can be

(isn't that my strength?)... Anyways,

growing up, I've always been criticised for being  "emotionally weak".

I was told that I am too dramatic for feeling too deeply.

I was told that I cry to gain sympathy by one of my family members (like sir? Seriously?)

I was called selfish for simply standing up for myself.

I was called rude because I was silent, while I was hurt.

I was blamed for overreacting while no one saw what they did to me...

And you know what's worst?

That I was one of them. YEAH.

(I was manipulated in such a way that I started believing them.)

That I never rebelled against them.

I continued to change myself accordingly,

in the hope that one day they will like me… they will love me.

Until I got lost and realised that no matter what I do, who I become — I will never be enough for this world.

And even if I will be enough,

I won't be myself anymore.

It would be someone else whom they are liking.

And that's when I quit and realised,

that I'm not a label.

I can never be defined in a word, a phrase, or even a sentence.

I'm more than that.

I'm a whole damn story within myself...

By Vaishnavi Mandle