Who Are You, Really?

As frogs, we often forget how much our surroundings influence us. The puddle's warmth and familiarity induce amnesia, (mis)leading us to believe that we have always felt a certain way.

On those rare occasions when we leave the puddle, we are reminded what a privilege swimming was in the first place. A few degrees of difference between our origin and destination make all the difference. This feeling is more invasive than culture shock; every new acquaintance displays the same irresistible urge to radically re-write our identity according to their personal expectations.

By nature, some puddles are more fluid than others, thus causing variation in the amount of potential struggle. For frogs moving from a laissez faire puddle to a more regulated one, the transition can be frustrating, mainly because of the expectation to transform, and less due to the actual process.