I can clearly remember the day our teacher asked us to prepare a speech on the topic "Who am I?". As I sat there, I found myself deep in thought. It wasn't that I was unsure who I was—the difficulty lay in choosing which aspect of myself to focus on.

I tend to show different sides of my personality depending on who I'm with. It took some time to realise that the version of myself I love the most is the one that comes out when I’m entirely alone, free from the watchful eyes of others. Isn't it true that we all wear different masks depending on who we're with? When no one is watching, when there are no eyes to judge us, our personality shifts in subtle and sometimes profound ways.

How we walk, tone of voice, facial expressions, and even the clothes we wear can change in the blink of an eye. In solitude, we allow ourselves to laugh freely, sing like no one can hear us, and dance recklessly. When we are utterly uninhibited, these moments reveal parts of our personality that we rarely show to the outside world.

But there's something deeper at play when we are alone, beyond mere freedom from judgment. It's difficult to put into words, but solitude seems to bring out the most authentic parts of ourselves, both the good and the bad. We all carry a shadow side—hidden corners of our psyche that remain largely untouched in our interactions with others. These are the parts of ourselves that we may not fully understand, the dark impulses and secret desires we keep locked away.

When no one is around, these hidden aspects of our personality sometimes surface. We might indulge in selfish thoughts or wish ill upon those who have wronged us. In these private moments, we allow our buried emotions to rise, revealing aspects of ourselves that we might prefer to keep hidden. But solitude doesn't just bring out the darkness within us, it can also highlight our capacity for kindness and compassion. When no one is watching, we might still smile warmly at a passing stranger, even though there's no one around to notice. We might return a lost wallet to its owner without expecting any recognition.

These small acts of kindness, performed without an audience, reveal a more profound truth about who we are. They show that, at our core, we are not just the sum of our mistakes and regrets. We are also the love we give freely and the kindness we extend without expectation of reward. So, who are we really when no one is watching? What do we do when we are free from the gaze of others when our actions aren't being judged? When our every move isn't being captured or scrutinised? Do we remain true to ourselves or become someone else entirely?

The truth is that we are all complex, multifaceted beings. We are the dark secrets we conceal and the mistakes we make. But we are also the love that goes unexpressed, the kindness that often goes unnoticed. When no one is watching, we can explore the full spectrum of our humanity and embrace our flaws and virtues. In solitude, we find the freedom to be our most authentic selves, for better or for worse. In these moments, we discover the depths of our character, the parts of ourselves that we rarely show to the world.

So, the next time you find yourself alone, take a moment to reflect. Ask yourself: who am I when no one is watching? What do my actions, thoughts, and feelings reveal about the person I am? Ultimately, it's not about choosing one version of yourself over another. It's about recognising and embracing all the facets of who you are. It's about understanding that you are complex and dynamic, capable of darkness and light, selfishness and generosity. And most importantly, it's about striving to be the best version of yourself, even when no one is around to witness it.