to our sweaty palms

I love looking back at my various past selves because it gives me a sense how much I have evolved ( in my eyes) over the years. When you encounter situations which you had 15 years ago, you would be surprised to see how differently you have come to view those situations.

I was extremely shy and self conscious as a kid. Those days I thought I was the only survivor in the homosapien family to have sweaty palms. I had palms and feet that sweat a lot. And more than the trouble that the sweat caused, it was the thought about it that did much of the harm. I was excessively worried about what others- who saw or god-forbid held my palms felt about me. Whenever possible, I tried to avoid situations where I had to shake or hold hands. 

During the Sunday mass, I would cringe at the thought of having to exchange peace vows (where you have to slide the faces of your palm against your neighbour's as a token of sharing the message of peace).  I made sure that I sat sandwiched between my own family members, so that no stranger would discover my incurable medical condition. I would try all kinds of mantras like deep breathing and pray for miracles to come my way. But nothing really worked. I encountered those uneasy situations with enormous difficulty.

So when did I start embracing the situation? A change happened when I started meeting people like me. Girls and boys with sweaty palms. I slowly began to forget about it. I met friends who held my hands even when it was sweaty. 

My palms still sweat but it doesn't attract my attention anymore. 

If I could meet my excessively-worried-past self, I would hold her sweaty palm in mine, look her in the eyes and tell her that she will grow out of all this. Just like I did.