Individuality

The fundamental truth about any individual is precisely that; an individual is an individual. 6.6 billion people roam this earth at any given second, with no 2 person's being a carbon copy of any other known person in existence. Or is there reasonable doubt in such a statement?

It would be naive to claim that we are a product of our environment; not untrue, but undeniably naive. We are indeed a product of our environment; we're just not exclusively a product of our environment. What we've seen, what we've experienced, the people we've met, the things we have learnt, the things we have done, the places we've been to, the traits we're born with, the skills we acquired, the talents we possess, etc. The list of variables that accumulate to describe how we are the person today is large, and the combinations possible are infinite. This alone would be reason enough to believe that no 2 people are precisely alike in this world. Does that make you feel special?

These thoughts on individuality are not random; there was a question raised today regarding how I am who I am. Even a simple comparison to my closest family members will make evident the stark contrasts between characters. Things only get more interesting when considering that we lived in the same times, nurtured by essentially the same people, and instilled with a similar sense of morality. Yet the minor differences in the days of the years that bring us to this very moment led to phenomenally disparate individuals.

What made me the person I am today? What were the biggest influences and factors? Is it even worthwhile to ponder over these? What can I do with what I understand from the 'how'-s and 'what'-s of me? If I were to re-live my life, would I be a completely different person?

The topic sparked many questions; far more than I am willing to write about here. However, as intrigued I am by the questions, I am equally intrigued to find that leaving them unanswered instills a deep sense of satisfaction. The fact that the concerns were considered satisfies the curious side; the many aspects of individuality are fascinating - its past, present and future. On the contrary, not attempting to feed answers to the questions evokes a sense of mystery and chaos; it implies that our individuality would (and should) continue to grow untainted by external influences. The less it is pondered upon, the less likely it is to change the way we change. The natural order of uncertainty in our individuality is preserved...

...or so I'd like to believe.