Sting

By Simrat Kaur Hora

I have a sensitive skin

Skin that cannot stand wool

Skin that develops rashes,

Because wool stings

Just like how a bee stings

Yes, similar to that..

When I was 4, I saw this blue wooLlen dress

I was immediately drawn towards it

Mom said no- because wool would give me rashes, but I insisted

I insisted on trying it

I had it on for 30 seconds

It stung me a little

But I wasn't bothered much

Because I loved the idea of it

The idea of how people would praise me and obsess over how I look

I did not pay heed to how it made me feel

I did not pay heed to what it was doing to my skin

Next, mom made me try the white dress made of cotton

Cotton is soft and skin-friendly

I looked good, but it did not feel extraordinary

It felt nothing like the woolen dress that was slightly stinging me

Mom did not want to buy me the woolen dress

But I insisted

And I cried

And, finally, she bought it for me!

One day, I wore it to a party

I was very happy and confident initially

But as time passed

It started stinging me

Stinging me like a bee

And, throughout the party, I was uncomfortable- itching my arms- adjusting my dress

This was a small incident,

But, little did I know

That it would shape the things that I would value in life

That it would shape my choices in life

My choice of wanting to be with people who drain me, like energy-sucking human parasites

Who sting me like the woolen dress

Bringing despair in my life- just like the blue color

My choice of being drawn towards people that would make me uncomfortable

And what about the people who make me feel at ease?

Who fill my heart with love?

Who make my life simple and comfortable- just like the white cotton dress?

The straight-forward choice should actually be people and things that feel like the white dress made of cotton..

But just because I had so many cotton dresses, the woolen one seemed extraordinary

It seemed extraordinary because it was challenging

Challenging because I had to convince my mom to buy it for me

Because I had to put up with the uncomfortable fabric that did not suit my skin

It seemed extraordinary, because cotton was an easy choice- it was a safe choice- and safe choices are looked down upon, stories of a happy life with minimal impact of ups and downs do not really grab our attention- they do not do sell well in the market

This made me choose people who sting like wool over people who are comforting like cotton- all throughout my life

Because then I would have a compelling story to tell- similar to how I would recite my story of putting up with an uncomfortable woolen fabric just to look good, with all the pride and might

Which makes me think,

It's the little things- the simple choices in life that have a huge impact in our lives..

The small things that change the course of life

Because it is these small decisions that dictate our life

Like

The sting of wool

OR

The comfort of cotton

What would you choose?

By Simrat Kaur Hora