Unique As a Snowflake

The world today comprises of about 7.7 billion people and each individual is as unique as a well-crystallized snowflake. Growing up in a country with a diverse population, the one thing that was instilled extremely well in my mind is that we, as individuals we are stronger because of our differences. This is because each individual always has something rare and unique to offer into the Pandora ’s Box of worldly endeavors. This is why the saying goes that we are the strongest when we are united because then we become an amalgamation of all the talents that each individual has to offer.

I recall quite an intriguing incident from my childhood when my mother taught me about the ‘superpowers’ that each one of us possesses. Growing up in India, one was always surrounded by strong, fragrant and colorful spices that filtered into every corner of a household from the sanctum sanctorum, the kitchen. One never got to see them on the table, nor did they appear individually on a rack in the hallway. They were always closely hidden in the round stainless steel box that my mother kept respectfully on the top shelf of her kitchen cubby.

Therefore, one day when I got into a massive argument with my cricket team I was taken aback when she glided into the kitchen to bring out the sacred ‘masala’ box.

Sitting me down, she put the box in front of a bamboozled me and asked me to smell and taste each spice one at a time. First came the red chili powder with its vibrant crimson hue and ear blazing taste, followed by the mellow turmeric, its pungent odor making me sneeze. This was continued until I had used all my senses to understand each spice for its properties.

It was then that my mother brought me a bowl of boiled rice and asked me to taste that. I gasped at its blandness and choked more on the smell of the raw spices.

It was then that my mother said these very words that have remained with me through the years. Pointing at the individual spices and rice, she said that individually the spices had their own unique flavor and quality, while the rice had its texture. Yet, alone one would not be able to ingest neither. However, when these unique traits were combined together, they formed a flavored rice (biryani) that was enjoyed and relished by people across the world.

Therefore, what she explained to me in her own unique way was that each person has some unique traits that make them special. When these individuals work together, they can use all their talent and together achieve otherwise impossible tasks.

Therefore, hone that talent and shine bright because together we can achieve wonders.