For someone whose emotional intelligence doesn’t quite match their academic sharpness, growing up feels like a constant test — not of knowledge, but of resilience. No one truly prepares you for adulthood. At first, it seems like everyone is just pretending to have it figured out. But with time, you realise that people do know. In fact, they’ve been subtly warning you all along — through their actions, their advice, and sometimes even their silence. But we’re often too caught up in our little dreams and distractions to notice. We think we have time, that life will begin after we chase those “silly” ideas — not realising that life is already unfolding right in front of us.
By the time the truth sets in, regret has already planted its roots. You look back at your choices with a sting of betrayal — self-betrayal. The past becomes a shadow, always lingering, gently mocking the person you were and the mistakes you made. And though you may try to forgive yourself, there’s a weight that never quite lifts — a silent resentment for not waking up sooner.
So what’s the way forward? I once heard a musician say, “Saadhana, saadhan, saadhana” — a call to daily discipline and practice. At the time, I thought it applied only to music. But now, I see it applies to everything in life. Practice — not just your craft, but your character. Practice patience, kindness, self-awareness. And above all, practice silence. Being quiet won’t solve all your problems, but it may just prevent a few new ones from being born. In that stillness, growth begins.
In the end, life doesn’t hand out second chances in clarity — it offers quiet moments of reflection, where you choose whether to sink deeper or rise slowly. For someone who once felt invisible, unheard, or even foolish in their innocence, reclaiming your worth starts not with grand gestures, but with the small, silent promises you make to yourself every day. To show up. To heal. To grow. To stop running from the past and start walking toward a better version of yourself.
So, if you find yourself feeling like a wallflower — overlooked, underestimated — know this: there is quiet power in watching, learning, and evolving. Let your past be a teacher, not a jailer. Build a life with intention, not regret. The world may never be kind enough to notice your quiet transformation, but you will. And that’s more than enough to begin again.
The wallflower within!