Being Everything To Everyone-By-Kumar Bahukhandi

In the journey of my life, I always have this inquisitiveness of knowing what do people perceive about me. In what shades do they see me. Obviously the life of a person cannot be coloured in black and white.

Since childhood my parents have always instilled in me the ways I should present myself in front of others. I have been taught to be good to everyone. The wise lessons of my life always bestowed in me asked me to be a person of good values. I remember a day when my mother thrashed me for not behaving properly in front of a few guests in my childhood days. I learnt a lesson of manipulating as I was not interested in attending those guests. She later taught me a lesson of being everything to everyone. She told me that sometimes you have to do a few things for others even though you don’t like.

My naïve mind failed to remember that “sometimes” and got into the habit to please everyone, impress anyone. I inculcated in me without asking any ifs and buts, why’s and what’s as a mark of respect and probably this inculcation had a big role in shaping my personality as I am . Then came the college life where I met many twists and turns. The approach remained the same probably of placing myself willingly or unwillingly. I was a friend to all and all were friends to me. A few were taking advantage of me and to few I was giving advantage.

My notes were copied, circulated and I never tried to hide secrets until I met a friend who changed my life saying “No you can’t be everything to everyone!” I wanted to reconsider my friend’s words and probably that refined and rejuvenated me. It was not that I could have changed myself without external force, rather I have not changed because I didn’t feel the need to change. Lessons of MBA also taught me to be ethical, thinking about the best of all concerned. What I realised that when I faced this practical world, it is the art of acting in a beautiful manner. My friend instilled and replaced my ideas and thoughts by putting in my mind that I can’t be everything to everyone.

The modus operandi she explained that as everyone can’t keep you happy so it is obvious that you too cannot please everyone all at the same time, so you can’t be everything to everyone. Adjust and learn to adjust. That is wise. A new wisdom indeed. Still the question remains in my mind, when I can be everything to everyone, why can’t others be the same? Are they different from me, or are they much more occupied with self. People supplicate, exemplify, intimidate or ingratiate but do they feel comfortable from within? As far as I am concerned, I prefer to remain the way I am as I consider myself lucky to conserve the best things instilled in me with the cruelties of real life. What about you? As far as I am concerned, my inquisitiveness of being perceived would remain unanswered as even a bright colour may appear dim in bright sunlight.