If You Really Want to Know Me, Know This

Helloo Beautiful Souls!🫶🏻💫

People always ask things like, “So, what are your hobbies?” or “Where do you see yourself in five years?”

And sure, I could give you a textbook answer — something about writing, law, JEE prep, or binge-watching random documentaries at 2 a.m.

But honestly?
If you really want to know me, know this:

I’ve spent more time trying to be understood than I have trying to understand myself.

It's strange, isn’t it? You grow up thinking that if you speak clearly, dress a certain way, act "right" — people will get you. But being misunderstood isn’t about words. It’s about feeling like no one’s even trying to read between the lines.

You laugh a little too loud — they call you attention-seeking.
You zone out during class — they say you’re careless.
You cry once — suddenly you’re “too emotional.”
You don’t cry at all — now you’re cold.

You can’t win.

I still remember this one day in school. I was just... off. I wasn’t talking much, wasn’t smiling. I wasn’t sad or angry — just tired. My teacher called me “disinterested” in front of the class. Said I had an attitude. That word stuck like glue. I wanted to scream, “This isn’t attitude. This is just me not having the energy to perform my usual sunshine self today.” But I didn’t say anything. I just nodded. Like always.

That’s the thing — you learn to perform who people want you to be.
And I know I’m not alone in this.
There are so many of us — walking contradictions, high-functioning disasters, people who seem put-together on the outside but are always having mini mental breakdowns inside.

We perform excellence while feeling like we’re never enough.
We listen to others but no one really listens to us.
We don’t want validation — just a little space to exist without being labelled.

Sometimes I feel like people don’t want to know the real me — they want the version of me that’s easy to digest. The "smart kid." The “mature one.” The girl who always knows what she wants.
Spoiler alert: I don’t always know.

But I’m learning.
I’m learning that maybe it’s okay if not everyone gets me. Maybe I’m not meant to be someone everyone can figure out.
Maybe we’re not puzzles — maybe we’re poetry. And not everyone reads poetry right.

So here’s what I want to say — to the overthinkers, the misfits, the ones always explaining themselves:
You don’t have to be understood by everyone to be valid.
Some people will misread you no matter how loudly you speak.

And if no one’s told you today — you’re not “too much.”
You’re just more than what they’re used to.

Drop a comment, DM, or just scream into the void (I do that too sometimes).
Because this space? It’s for the ones who feel a little too much, think a little too hard, and are done pretending.

And if this post hit home even a little —
Share it with someone who needs to hear they’re not alone. 
Stay loud, stay soft, stay you. 💌


                                                                                                                            

                                                                                                                           Until next time

                                                                                                                           Stay Unfiltered, Shweta💖