me and myself

Walking through Srirangam's ancient corridors, I confronted the woman I'd become. Years of chasing validation had hollowed me. Then I remembered Avvaiyar's wisdom about inner strength mattering more than applause. The temple's stone walls whispered secrets only I could hear. Each step felt like shedding someone else's expectations. Social rewards had blinded me to genuine purpose. Standing alone before the sanctum, I discovered something unexpected: peace tastes sweeter when chosen freely. My grandmother's generation understood this. They built lives on integrity, not accolades. Now I choose differently. My community notices. Their quiet respect feels revolutionary compared to hollow praise. Some journeys return us home.