What do I like?
I have been feeling a lack of challenge lately. Nothing I do seems to stimulate my mind enough. So I am going back to my roots. Seeing what do I like? What are the things in my life that are effortless to like and I donāt have any reason to like them. My favourite fruit, color, ice cream flavor. All of them come naturally to me. I donāt need to rationalize them. I just like it.
What do I like? Answering this question again and again whenever I am in a rut has helped me get to my new chellenge. It sharpens my ability to recognize my space.
What you like should persist in solitude. You should enjoy it even if you can never tell anyone about it. Maybe thereās a book you keep returning to even though everybody around you claims it to be overrated. Or the music that everyone around you says is cringe. But you just like it. What are the things that you like when you have no reason to like them?
I love people who have build an immunity to social pressures about thier likes. Itās wonderful to see someone say, āYes, I love pineapple on pizzaā and feel no need to defend it. Thereās a joy in catching yourself genuninely loving something. Maybe that thing is uncool and you still liking it shows a moment of self trust.
I am a person who is easily influenced by the people around. If I see a sense of happiness in your habits or the books you are reading, I will give it a try. Maybe to understand you better or just to see whatās more out there. Your likes gives me a moment to see world from your lens. And I donāt hold back on that. One of the habits that I have recently taken from someone is eating dal rice by hand. And the food just tastes too good when eating by hand.
When you keep answering āwhat do you like?ā, you start seeing a pattern. These pattens become your signature. I find myself drawn to things that tell stories - in the books I read, people I connect with, the places I chose to be. Each 'like' adding to the story I am living.