As we strolled through the length of the ever-busy pedestrian street, heading for the bus stop, I suddenly became hyperaware of my surroundings. Time slowed down by a fraction, and the excessive busyness of the area seemed to fade as my focus sharpened.

Situated in the city’s central area and leading up to the Kazan Kremlin (where the Governor’s Palace is located), this street, renowned for its historical significance, is often a hive of activity.

Regardless of what time of year it is, you would often find visiting tourists on sightseeing tours, sometimes stopping for a meal at the exquisite restaurants flanking the street on both sides. It is also a common sight to see passersby flocking around buskers who are always happy to serve premium entertainment to their raving audience.

But this particular day was different. It was a special day on the Russian calendar. Every year, the 9th of May is set aside to commemorate their historic victory in the first World War II. To that effect, it is always a public holiday with a myriad of events across the country.

A friend and I had gone on a walk that evening and found ourselves at one of the open-air concerts just outside the Kremlin. We hung out there for a while and decided to go back home. While on our return walk, I had the hyperconscious moment described in the opening paragraph.

As we ambled through the hundreds of people on the street that day, I keenly observed everyone who walked past us, making a mental comparison and studying their similarities and differences.

Well, as you might have guessed, no two people were alike. I studied dozens of people on my way to the bus stop, and every one of them was distinctly different —looks, features, style, down to their smile. Not one face was repeated. Everyone was clearly unique.

And it got me thinking…

Just as everyone was physically peculiar, so also are we unique in our strengths, weaknesses, talents and interests. If these parameters were to be represented in a spectrum, we would be at different points on the spectrum as no two people are the same.

But if we’re all so different, why do we often trade our originality and try to be like everyone else but ourselves? If we’re unique individuals, why are we so prone to conforming to trends and other societal opinions?

Don’t get me wrong; not all “social norms” are negative. Some positive trends make for a better society. However, my emphasis is on the loss of individuality that comes with wanting to be like everyone else out there.

We are prone to comparing ourselves with others and often with those we think are “better” than us. We measure our flaws against their strengths and feel inadequate based on the results of our analysis. But the truth is we cannot accurately access others based on the little we know about them or the limited information they reveal about themselves.

Instead of focusing on what we’re not, how about we pay more attention to harnessing our uniqueness? Embracing our individuality removes the pressure of fitting into a preconceived description or being like anyone else. The world would be too boring if everybody were to be like everyone else.

So instead of spending your energy thinking about what you’re not, carry out some sincere introspection, and you will discover a unique package within you that you alone can offer to the world around you. Harness your uniqueness, and you’ll be glad you did.