Assuming Responsibility – Lessons learnt from Bulbasaur

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For everyone born after 1996, Pokémon has been a quintessential childhood memory that has moulded our psyches down to the very core. I got the opportunity to re-watch the series with my little cousins after almost a decade today.

When we re-watch something after ages, especially after having grown out of the obsessive phase, we see the whole thing with a fresh perspective. I learnt a lesson today – all thanks to Bulbasaur, the cute grass type Pokémon that Ash owns since season 1 of the series. In episode 51 of the first season, we see Bulbasaur come face to face with a fleet of Ivysaur (the evolved version of Bulbasaur) and a Venusaur (Final Evolution Stage of Bulbasaur) upset at the former for not evolving.

The whole episode maps out a tussle between the more evolved species trying to persuade Bulbasaur to grow up and not delay the process. By the end of the episode, Bulbasaur manages to convince them through his act of saving them from Team Rocket that he doesn’t have to grow up just yet. He can do that when he feels he is ready to assume greater responsibility.

Now, what lesson did I learn? For all of us 20 something kids, this decade is probably the most exciting and yet the most terrifying phase of our lives. Adulting, as we call it, could not have been harder when we see literally everyone around us outsmarting, overachieving and just generally enjoying life better than us.

In these times, we will be asked to assume responsibilities that we just aren’t ready to take up, earn by 24, marry before 30! The all familiar story might just be too daunting. But now, coming back to the episode, tiny little Bulbasaur taught me today that if we are not ready for something, we can take our sweet time. Our life trajectory does not have to be the norm, we can all be the exceptions, stay true to ourselves, be our very own Bulbasaur in a fleet of Ivysaurs around us.

And while I say this, it is not an excuse to not own up to things we are capable and ready to do. It is just a reminder that the roads of our lives don’t have to reach its destination before we are ready to enjoy the view. We can all strive to make the most out of journeys, knowing that when we get where we want to be, we are 100% prepared to enjoy the fruits of our labour.

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