Sunday, October 28, 2007

Everyone has a story

If you think about it you'll realize that everyone has a story. At least everyone I know has a story. A story, which if you read in the books, you might think of it as fiction. But it’s real and it’s out there. Some people have had difficult or impoverished childhood and have gone ahead and made it big in their prime years. Some have battled serious illness and come out trumps. Some are climbing the ladder real fast and getting dizzy in the head. Some have gone through bitter divorces and are still holding grudge. Some are unhappy in their own skin and want to be someone else. Some have resigned to their fate and believe in existentialism. Some have been through intense relationships and break-up thereafter resulting in permanent un-doable damage. Some are about to marry and not sure whether they still love the person and whether marriage is the right thing to do after all. Some have got babies and trying every day to be the man they need to be. Some are single and will probably remain single for as long as forever. Some are in the hospital not knowing when they will breathe their last. Some are married to someone in paper but someone else in mind. Some are unfortunately caught in legal battles not knowing which way the verdict will swing. Some are pursuing the wrong subject and flunking year after year after year resulting in low self esteem only to be at the receiving end of disappointed parents. Some have topped their class and made their parents proud. Some are stuck in jobs they don’t like and can’t change. Some have given it their all to the companies they work for only to be shown the door very coldly when they weren’t performing. Some have parents who have given up on them. Some have moved out of their parents to make it on their own.

Every person you meet or come across - the waitress taking your order , the counter staff tendering change, the driver in the car overtaking you, the milkman, the garbage guy – they all have compelling stories. The actor in front of the camera enacting a story has his own away from the arch lights. Even the dead have stories. When you realize that everyone has a story, it might just change the way you think about people and treat people.