It is October 10. I see the usual memes about “She’s a 10” and “He’s a 10” because he’s 10/10. And perhaps here is the best part of the memes. We have no idea what the person sharing a funny meme is really going through. Are they sharing this when there is a happy family lighting a diya on the cusp of Diwali, or is someone sharing it even when their house is on fire? Because memes don’t come with a traumatic stamp from the creator, or who shared them with you.
“We have no idea what the person sharing a funny meme is really going through… Are they sharing this even when their house is on fire?”
So what is resilience? Is sharing a funny meme the way it’s supposed to without adding your own sad sentiments to it? Why would you corrupt the message with your sadness? Is it filing that tax return and sending that bill even when you don’t know if a loved one will ever come back from the clutches of the taxman above us all? Do you continue with your self-care routine and yoga exercises even when your tears stain the yoga mat? Is it about getting off the ground in three seconds after a breakdown because it now prides itself on reducing recovery time to less than a moment?
As I write this article I am listening to the soundtrack of the anime. Death Note. A heartbreaking or heartbreaking thriller/tragedy depending on how tough you are, maybe. Because in this anime (mild spoiler warning), a malevolent individual gets hold of a book where he can kill someone simply by writing their name on it. Who could even consider facing off, let alone defeating such an entity? And many, including the great world powers, meekly surrender. But a small group of extremely deadly ordinary cops decide to stand up. In a harrowing scene that I will always remember, the commissioner’s backup comes in the form of brave, completely ordinary cops who face the invisible dispenser of death simply by covering their faces.
‘Death Note’: A Heartbreaking Or Heartbreaking Thriller/Tragedy Depending On How Tough You Are
Netflix
In real life, or ‘irl’ as GenZ would call it, resilience doesn’t always require you to face the Death Note businessman. But many situations can often feel that way. Some are fortunate to be shielded from difficult decisions at a young age. Some are lucky enough to have the resilience to make tough decisions at a young age when no one else can or wants to. On World Mental Health Day, I’m sure we’ll see a lot of memes about anxiety, depression, stress, etc. and the usual platitudes about how good we are finally having these discussions. But what is important to remember is that discussions are not a substitute for work. Because resilience is about how to keep going even in the face of insurmountable odds. This is not about using World Mental Health Day as an excuse to run away from work and sharing mental health memes as a substitute.
Because the title of “He’s a 10” or “She’s a 10” is often followed by a “but umm” in the meme format. And you will have to overcome each and every one of them, because only then will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror and confidently say “you are a 10”.
The author is a Marwari investment banker turned corporate comedian. The views expressed in this article are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the website.
