It is common to see major personality transformations in your school to adult life. Say you had a friend back in school or college who was a timid and shy person. He/She would come from a conservative family and would not indulge themselves in anything apart from studies. And suddenly fast forward 15 years in the future: The same person is like the most extrovert person you have seen, super active on social media, and is nothing short of a social butterfly.
On the other hand, it is more uncommon to see such changed personalities in your adult life. Say, if you met someone at work and then a few years later (5 or 6), you see a completely changed personality. It strikes you hard. What could have brought such a radical transformation in such a short span of time? This is interesting because I would think that the foundations of our adult life are already formed during our college days.
I came across someone like this recently- who underwent a radical personality change. A devote Christian boy, Jack* hailed from a conservative (protestant) Christian family. His every word dripped with love for his God and he was an emphatic and kind person. I even had the opportunity to visit his family (he has had his share of family troubles) and visit his Church (I think many folks from other religions have definitely experienced their Christian friends “inviting” them for Church mass). I have had hours long conversations with him overnight trying to understand why does his love and empathy have to stem from God, and not just within. An emotional being, he would explain how his experience with God has made him a better person. Despite having all the traits of a stereotypical “good groom”, Jack did not date any girl, either perhaps he didn’t find anyone from his own community that interesting or he was not brave enough to date someone from outside of the community. We stayed friends and parted ways because our work took and life took us in different directions.
Fast forward 5-6 years: Jack has left his home and wanders in what one might label as “hippie” locations with hippie people.
This is a stereotype term here for free spirited foreigners who come to India for some soul searching, and/or cheap drugs and hashish. They move from place to place with their guitars and make new friends, sing and drink at night, talking a combination of what they may consider philosophy and life. (ok, I apologise for this awful explanation! But you get the point, right!). Soon, I found Jack travelling to these locations (whilst claiming to free lance and still earn his living) with a foreigner whom happened to be his girlfriend. He sings jazz blues and hums around a bunch of Indians and foreigners who seem to be perennially high. Where did that devout Christian boy go?
* name changed obviously
lessonsfromlife123 