what am i

My grandmother whispered Thiruppavai verses while braiding my hair, her weathered fingers moving like prayer. "You are more than what mirrors show," she'd say, invoking Avvaiyar's ancient wisdom about inner light transcending form. Years later, I understood. Society offers rewards for fitting neatly into boxes. But the sacred exists in refusing to shrink. That terrifying freedom, that optimistic defiance—it's backed by generations of women who knew themselves completely. I am my ancestors' resilience. I am their untamed spirit. In claiming this, I join an unbroken lineage, honoring the heritage that sustains us all.