What Makes you Different

As I sit late at night waiting for a charger to charge my phone (yes there is a shortage and no we have not been able to buy a new one for want of time), I begin humming 'What makes you Different' by the Backstreet Boys (admit it, you all have heard them at one point in time or another).

It's all to well for Brian and gang to croon about the 'advantages' of being different, but for us mere mortals, how difficult is it to really accept what makes us different?

Do we 'plus' sized girls go around really happy about our paunch and love handles (that make us eligible for modelling for a range of maternity wear) or are we forever in envy of the lithe and slender ones?

Do those of us on the darker side of the complexion chart believe in United Colors of Benetton or do we secretly wish that the fairness cream commercials are actually true and possible?

Examples of physical, emotional and personality differences are found everywhere around us, and in the race to say "I'm Fine!" we ignore a more pressing chore - to accept our differences and 'own it'.

For a generation, that I feel personally, is in a constant state of flux and uncertainty, that very important part of development is missing. Acceptance of the self has been dimmed by the need to be accepted by society and colleagues and peers and what not.

Why do we feel that frustration at the end of the day, when more things are going right for us than wrong? Why do we always crib about 'needing a break' when by our own confession, we are doing what we always wanted to do.

Something is wrong and grossly so. The fact is that though we may croon along with BSB (yes, that's how I address them sometimes still), we do not believe 'What makes you DIFFERENT, makes you BEAUTIFUL". And until we do, we will always 'need a break'.