Seeing the care and creativity families put into their ofrendas for Dia de los Muertos in Mexico City made me wonder what my own altar would include when I’m gone. The question felt surprisingly difficult: despite having many hobbies, friends and interests, I couldn’t immediately pick the objects that would best represent my life.
That uncertainty led me to reflect on how well the people around us truly know us — and how well we know ourselves. For a while I worried that I didn’t have a fixed identity, that I was still in a phase of self-discovery with tastes and priorities that change frequently.
Gradually I realised that when people describe me, they usually talk about my personality rather than specific possessions or hobbies. I am social, curious about other people’s lives (which explains why I enjoy reading blogs), and I enjoy new challenges. I’ve tried many activities and fads over the years — sports, charity events, different hobbies — but few things have stuck long enough to become defining. I get bored easily and often move on to the next thing, which makes it hard to name a few physical items that would capture my life forever.
