Un-masked togetherness

This has been a season of school and college get-togethers. In fact, I am writing this just after a college get-together. I have hardly attended some of these in the past. I had my legitimate reasons, but I realise it was because I had not prioritised this or seen it as important. A bit too late to recognise this. 

 

There are a few learnings I want to share from last week’s get-togethers.

 

One – class get-togethers are where you can be yourself. You cannot wear a mask – metaphorically. In the world out there, you wear multiple masks. Mostly the image mask, without realising that what others know about me colours all the image I want others to see. But in front of people who knew you in your childhood, teenage years and early twenties, image does not matter. You can be who you are, without any masks. If you wear a mask, it will be uncomfortable too. And that was why we were fooling around, maskless! 

I wonder if I can live this life in my external engagement in the world – live without masks.

 

Two – your position, status and roles do not define you. As I wrote in an earlier blog, our class are well known  high achievers. And others, who might have been out in the woods. But then, in a group like this, it hardly matters. We are measured not by what we have done, what we are doing or what position we have reached. Or who knows us. Interestingly, we are at an age when we are mostly “Ex”: ex-professor, ex-department head, ex-CEO. In the journey from “Ex” towards “Late”, you start realising that you are defined by who you are – human beings, not human doings. And in conversations, there was a sense that almost all were still on the path of success - success defined as being “becoming better angels of our nature” – still somehow wanting to live life to its full potential, though that might be different for each person.

 

What would this mean, as we live in the world out there – as physical fitness starts to wane, cognitive functions start getting impaired – still a full life with potential?

Three – there is diversity, but unity. United by just the memories of the journey almost 50 years back, reinforced by the frequent get-togethers for the faithful, a bit more challenging for the unfaithful like me. United in one group by what we call – the death we experienced. Our joining of the medical college is celebrated as a “Death anniversary” – dead to one way of life, born to another. And the new life took varied paths, but all are still part of a new life journey. Another group – united by old memories, and what they want to contribute as a group back to their alma mater. In both groups - more than these – united by a friendship which defies all other differences we have - religion, social status, political leanings, economic status, and many others. We are and will be diverse, but this will not divide us. Things that divide us in the world outside become immaterial in such a group.

 

I wonder if this is feasible in our daily life too, in the world outside, where there is an intentional design to divide and rule. 

 

But is this not what we were created to be? Maskless humans, who are not afraid to unmask themselves and live with no shame, secure in who they are. Humans not defined by their doings only, but by who they are –  becoming “better angels of our nature” by intention, each day. (May not be possible by self effort, but needs divine strength and a bit of iron sharpening the iron) And living in harmony with each other and with nature, because we have the same origin and destiny!

 

Only if I Love God, (if you believe in God - even if otherwise - you still are family 😊) and love others as you love yourself  – the simple commandment for life - I can make it possible. Which means I need to unmask more, and attend more get-togethers.