The joy of being “Unknown”

When I was little, I wondered why celebrities have problems with paparazzi.

It was when I visited a place in Diwali where nobody knew my existence. Ordinarily, I would have forcefully dressed up that day for “society” since I wasn’t feeling like the dressing day that day, and it would have been a bit stressful. But being in a place where nobody knew my existence was a relief. The festive feeling was all inside me, and I was happier that I could dress as whatever I wanted with no social pressure to appear in a certain way. I was overjoyed; all I did was focus on running around from place to place, eating my favourite foods, having chai, talking to a lot of people and helping with the festivities decoration :)

I found myself free from the expectations, judgments, and preconceptions that often accompany familiar social circles.

It was liberating!

I was carefree, and to my surprise, my parents were too!

I do believe it was a liberating feeling for them too :)

This made me wonder how being famous affects life in various ways. You have to portray being someone you are not constantly. Wearing certain kinds of clothes, carrying a welcoming attitude everywhere and after that being photographed at different places just to be criticised for living life!

It’s draining.

While experiencing life and prioritising what was integral vs what society seeks, I understood that name fame was never my thing. In the current scenario where every other person can be easily famous (provided you put in some work, obviously) by going viral through Instagram and YouTube, it’s not easy “Being known.”

It is never wrong, but I would want to stress the fact of dealing with this popularity. Suddenly, society dictates who you are and who you should be. It could be exciting, drowning, but never peaceful.

The anonymity allows the opportunity to explore new facets of personality, to experiment with different interests, and to interact with others in a way unencumbered by prior impressions.

In this state of being unknown, I discovered a joy in the freedom to express myself authentically, forge genuine connections based solely on the present moment, and embrace the spontaneity and possibility that each encounter offered. It was a reminder that true liberation often lies in stepping outside the confines of the known and embracing the exhilarating uncertainty of the unknown.