The multiple identities of Pappa

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I started this blog 2 month back to capture my musings as a pappa. Things which were not directly related to me being a pappa will find their place elsewhere, was my thought. However, when i think of it today - it does not matter. My primary identity today is that of Dhaani`s father. Or maybe i like that to be my primary identity. That does not take away my secondary identities.

 Yes, secondary identities. I believe that there are multiple identities within me which need to be given their space and time - a man in love, a son and brother, a real estate corporate guy, a photographer, a poet, a singer, an architect, a traveler, a foodie, an investor. Apart from these existing personalities, there are some new ones which i am trying to imbibe - a vegan, a minimalist, a yoga enthusiast, an experimental chef, a reader.

 Did you count? It is 18 of them. In 1.

 Is it just me? I don't think so. Almost everyone i have met in my life has at least 10 different personalities within.. Most of these personalities are visible during our childhood and teenage. It's only when we are busy in the rut of job and life that the other personalities go Mr India on us.

 Let's do a quick experiment.Can you answer this question for me?

 What do you do? 

 Did i hear the usual suspects? I am a student, i work withi xyz, i am running my own business of uvw..blah blah. Now i am not against these being the primary identities. We are trained to treat our occupation as our primary identity, and its okay. What is not okay is putting all our eggs in one basket i.e. suppressing all our other identities.

 Let me modify the question which I asked above.

 What all do you do? (Please please  tell me things which are beyond your plan to make money and be famous)

 Let's do this. Take a piece of paper and list down all the things you do. To help structure this process, break the things into these 3 buckets

 1. Things you do to make money/ get fame
2. Roles you play within your family/love life / Society
3. Things you love to do / will do for free
For everyone i know, i can list down at least 7 things with the above process. Let's take 2 examples 

 My wife Himani - Dhaani s Mom, my soulmate, elder daughter and sister, friend, EA to President @ Mahindra Group, Sustainability and diversity champion, Chef, Health Foodie, Changemaker, architect, makeup artist, Yoga enthusiast, diet guru, CSR expert 

 My dear friend Bhoju - Finance guy, Analyst, father, friend,  singer, writer, "friends " fan, hockey player, ideator

 Some of these identities are too obvious to list, one would think. With every relationship we have, there is an identity associated. But it's different to just have an identity and actually be that person. I know of many families where the roles have become meaningless. At the end of the day, its what you choose to be is what defines you, not what you were assigned to.

 Everyone knows within her heart what all she is. I do not believe there is one role which can satiate us.  Profession and occupation are very important. They bring us the money, fame, and joy to fuel our body and lives. But to fuel our soul, we need to express our complete being. 

 So, if the Pappa would want to express some of his other pursuits, we will let him do it, @pappablog.

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