STHREE Launch

Attended the launch of STHREE, a support group for breast cancer survivors, patients, caregivers in Bangalore. The guest of honour was a woman IG of police. She was introduced as an iconic woman achiever of exemplary courage.She spoke of how she had to overcome some fears in order to be accepted in a male dominated field. There were women survivors and patients present. Heads covered with scarves they spoke, among other things, of how hair loss reduced their confidence to be present in public places. I wondered about different types of courage needed to fight human battles. I found all those women, fighting long drawn out battles inside their bodies, equally if not more courageous than the woman IGP. Unsung heroes, each one of them.
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I was with some breast cancer survivors recently. I heard them speak. They were ordinary women in the sense that none of them were extraordinary achievers in the way the world defines achievement. What I noticed in them was zest, the excitement of being alive. They had come close to losing life and now just being alive was a gift to be happy about. They had to keep coming for followups. Not one day was to be taken for granted.
And I think why is just being alive not enough for me? Why do I think I need to achieve something or be this 'perfect being' in order to justify my existence? What is this 'achievement' anyway in this ever changing transient world? And what is 'perfection'? I am the sum total of attributes, some 'bad' some 'good'. And their combination make me who I am.Who knows trying to change something 'undesirable' might change something 'desirable' that I might regret? So I think its best to accept myself as a package deal, to love myself for who I am. And express myself without inhibitions or fear. I will no longer edit myself for people who are not comfortable with who I am. Take me in entirety or leave me. I will live my life.