bhaskar saikia

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville

In a world that constantly whispers who we should be, it takes quiet courage to simply be ourselves. We grow up learning how to blend in, how to speak the right words, dress the right way, and dream acceptable dreams. And yet, deep within us, there’s always a small, stubborn voice that refuses to be edited—a voice that wants to paint in its own colors, even if the world prefers black and white.

Authenticity isn’t loud. It doesn’t demand applause. It’s the gentle rhythm of a person at peace with their contradictions—their fears, flaws, and forgotten parts. It’s about embracing the rough edges instead of polishing them away for acceptance.

There’s dignity in being imperfectly original. Melville’s words remind us that it’s far better to stumble while walking our own path than to sprint on someone else’s. Failure, when born from authenticity, carries its own grace—it becomes a form of discovery. But success built on imitation feels hollow, like a song played from someone else’s memory.

The world celebrates uniqueness but often punishes difference. And yet, every great work of art, every meaningful act of kindness, and every moment of courage begins with someone choosing to be unapologetically themselves.

Perhaps being yourself isn’t about finding who you are, but remembering who you’ve always been—before the noise, before the masks, before the comparisons.

Because somewhere between the expectations and the echo of others’ voices, your true self still waits—quietly, patiently, beautifully—just to be seen again.