Melting standards

Nets  aimed  at  shooting  stars,

Heart  lusting  its  glitter  and  spark,
Naive  for  Greatness,  Glory,  and  Fame,

Minions  march  to  make  a  name;

Barbaric  hunters  with  a  pile  of  skulls,

Artists  flaunting  mastered  skills,

Emperors,  Cardinals  from  different  times

Modern  entrepreneurs  hoarding  gains;

The  world  looks  up  in  need  of  a  purpose,

Craving  a  promise  of  dreams  in  surplus;

Like  the  moon  drunk  on  the  light it  borrows,

Aspires  to  be  the  sun  every  night  and  morrows;

The  play  of  chance,  the  hand  of  times

Distract  our  eyes  from  what  it  hides;

Hunter  in  an  Industrial  Age

Writer  facing  the  Dinosaur's  rage

Flip  the  centuries,  the  Heroes  fall,

Yet  the  world  is  snared  by  illusion's  trawl;

-Sajithra

Is the single child hypothesis true? Are single children bratty and selfish

There are conflicting theories. That only proves that there is no conclusive answer to this. Individuals respond differently to circumstances and their choices ultimately make them who they are. There is no formula in life that can tell us how exactly things would go down, tying cause and effect. That's the gift or challenge of human life, however we see it.

An only child doesn't need to compete at home. This can go either way. The child could get extremely competitive outside to hoard attention to match the attention at home or be content and laid back because there is no need to overcompensate.

A child with siblings could learn to fight at home or share and that again depends on the individual in question. There is no way to predetermine behaviors.  An only child could use the same opportunity outside home and appreciate friendships and co-operation more.

I am an only child. I never missed siblings while growing up. But I do remember that my friendships were intense.  I grew up in a regressive society but I did not let that affect me. My internal compass was different. I spent more time with books and in a way that defined my culture. My parents supported my ideologies, even the ones they were not accustomed to. I was idealistic as a child and had complete disregard for consequences.

My parents used to praise me to high heavens while growing up and that did have an impact on me. Every school year ended with a bunch of certificates and trophies. I was also considered good looking when I was younger and this coupled with participation in extra curricular activities meant that I always had more attention than I could manage. I had to deal with friends fighting over me, someone shouting their apparent 'love' in a public bus, people who didn't date but would approach between my dating history that was short lived anyway and later an ex boyfriend who proposed marriage even years after breaking up with no contact, someone publishing a book after the break up which was apparently a sweet tribute. There was no negativity or ill will even after break ups. I was loved. I did block for a short while when I got friend requests on fb from a couple of ex boyfriends but it was only a message that I don't want to stay in touch and not out of malice. When I close a door, I don't look back. That's all.  I sincerely believed that I could succeed in anything I put my mind to and if not, it's probably not something that matters. It's scary to have that amount of confidence. There were times I felt that I was better than someone or the other. I realized that this attitude could make me an egotist. 

I could not bring down my confidence and I dealt with that by raising up everyone else. I trained myself to see the potential in others and celebrate the differences. If there are multiple hypothesis, I learned to pick the one that was self deprecating. I don't participate in conversations where someone is called an idiot. I give myself a free pass to criticize only when hypocrisy or bigotry is in question. I am competitive at work but I also believe in helping others succeed. My circumstances had its own pros and cons but I make those choices every single day. I do slip but I notice that it gets less with time. 

Every 'cause' comes with multiple possibilities and the 'effect' doesn't entirely depend on that when other variables are in question. Ultimately, it's up to the individual.

What do you like the most about yourself and why? What would happen to you if that particular attribute was taken away?

Hope
 
It’s crazy how much I believe that everything happens for my own good. I see a silver lining in the direst of circumstances. I have been close to death and actually felt a surge of peace, accepting that death could prevail and that would be alright too.
 
I have never had a nightmare that ended badly.  Night terrors end with the ‘dream me’ praying and divine help lifting me from whatever that was. 
 
//What do you like the most about yourself and why? What would happen to you if that particular attribute was taken away?//

I wouldn’t recognize me if hope is taken away from me. I wouldn't have made the same choices that got me where I am.