Author: Marta Kuljak, Gimnazija A. G. Matoša, Zabok
In a dictionary, there is a reasonable explanation next to the word „identity“, such as „something that defines us“. However, I fear that I would somehow disappoint myself if I started to believe in that. I’d probably feel like a child who had just been told that Santa didn’t exist. The same would be if you searched definitions of words „love“ or „friendship“ . You can convince yourself that they are true, but once you think about them, the reality hits you.
Those words are defined by our experiences and memories. I believe identity too. I’ll let you in on a secret.
A long time ago, wondering what it was, I imagined identity as 200 grams of durable purple Play – Doh! that I got at the beginning of my life. With years I have gotten some new colors from people and events that have had an impact on me. Some are bright yellow, just like the sun at noon, some are even black like coal mines. To me, those bright colors symbolize my best friends, good books, road trips and all the other things I adore. Dark shades stand there for some sadder times, when life decides to go its own way, ignoring my wishes or plans. The good thing is, experiencing something negative just makes me paste more of my own color to my side. During the years, I have also been leaving purple bits of my plasticine on others. My Play –Doh! changes its shape depending on where I am or who I am talking to. Some people and societies like to keep their plasticines in their boxes, never revealing transparently their true identity. Perhaps they’re scared, rattled or simply selfish. None of us have any right to blame them. For the rest of us it would be best to give parts of our plasticines to build bridges, whether they are simply connecting us with only one person or the whole society.
However, in case you didn’t know, they disappear every day. I got a few chances to see it because they once belonged to me or somebody I knew. It’s not always other people’s fault. When I didn’t look after them for a long time, I got to find them in a very bad condition. Some of them looked like dried flowers that died yearning for water, or I simply found only half of it because the other person decided to use the half for a new bridge. It is tearful for me to get over such events. But I have matured enough to understand. Parts of plasticine are flexible. Their change completes my identity and is now a part of me. Besides, we will always get to build new ones, won’t we?
This whole idea may seem somewhat absurd, but I see those bridges as our chance to promote tolerance, friendship and diversity. Each one of us has an identity and an opportunity to present it to the world in the best possible way. Your plasticine doesn’t have to be purple. It can weigh 7 tons or 5 milligrams. The whole point is to make sure you’re satisfied with the one you have. It’s all on you.
And last time I checked, not to be found in any dictionary.
