Do I love everything? Do I hate everything?

Love is such a chaotic little word-kind of like that sibling you secretly hope was adopted, isn’t it? One minute I’m obsessed, the next I am side eyeing it like it just stole my last fry.

I’ve been sitting here debating with myself for the last fifteen minutes about what to even say about it. Dramatic, I know. But here’s the thing—what I love today might be the very thing that annoys me tomorrow. Take this, for example: a cozy, rainy evening with a bowl of cheesy ramen in hand (small portion, of course—can’t risk getting fat), wrapped in the fluffiest blanket while watching a rom-com K-drama. Sounds dreamy, right? But wait, the fan must be on, blowing my hair like I’m in some music video. Yep, that’s me—contradictory desires and all.

Now, if you want me to be the “good kid” and deliver some classroom-style boring speech about what I love, let me paint a picture: me, overdressed at a fancy café or an absurdly lavishing hotel buffet, cat fighting with the person I tolerate the most. Insta-worthy pics, of course, because typical Gen Z behaviour, right? But here’s the plot twist: on the same day, I’d probably want to cuddle up with my oversized avocado plushie (don’t judge, it’s not from your wallet) and spend the entire day in bed doing absolutely nothing. And by nightfall, I’d be drowning in self-pity, wondering why I didn’t live the day like the star I think I am.

I adore human interactions—meeting new people, reading them, understanding them. No bragging, but I make friends almost every day. Yet, my endless love for people is like the sunrise – beautiful, but it sets just as fast. Don’t worry though, it’s a cycle! What I still love, though, is when relationships start off bitter. Hate-to-love arcs? Obsessed. Friends-to-lovers? Ugh, snooze-fest.

But if there’s one true love in my life, it’s experiences. Honestly, I don’t even hesitate—I jump headfirst into the chaos. Maybe that’s why every time I try to maintain a journal, I fail spectacularly. I start by writing about how I almost tripped on the bus, and somehow end up ranting about why Hermione should’ve ended up with Harry instead of Ron – the human equivalent of a soggy towel.

So here I am, a typical Gen Z, carving out my little corner in the universe to rant about my not-so-philosophical, entirely chaotic ideas. Do I love everything? Do I hate everything? Honestly, I think I just love the sound of my own voice pretending I have it all figured out.

By the way I would have loved the dinosaur era, no WiFi, no distractions, and definitely no one reading this right now!

-Rtr. Vihangi Uswatte