X: X-factor – knowing the unknown

  

  I am sure there is no need to explain about the source of this interesting word. Thanks to the flood of reality shows that dominated our screens somewhere around a decade back, we are used to hearing judges speak out this word left, right, and center.

“That was an excellent performance, and it had perfect amounts of that X-factor"

“Your dance performance was flawless, but it was lacking something, like an X-factor”

 “If you want to win over others, your performance should not be just a well-coordinated and well-rehearsed display, it should possess that special X-factor”

  Such dialogues and several others reflect the significance of this X-factor. When I started pondering about a word for the unique letter X (and I must admit, there was lot to ponder about!), this mysterious word poked me quite often. So when the final decision was to pick either X-ray or X-factor, I was pulled towards the latter. While I did not know much about what it meant, this lack of knowledge rightly paved way for the title- knowing the unknown.

  So, what is this ‘X-factor’? What does it mean to possess or lack that X-factor which can make or break a performance? What is so special about ‘X-factor’ that can add a unique feel to your overall personality?

 Online dictionaries define X-factor as a noteworthy special talent or quality. It stands for a unique skill, variable or feature that adds a significant value to something. But, the real punch lies in the inability to define this unique talent. Though we know that the performance/person/factor possesses something different from others, it is impossible to define it word by word. It is more of a mysterious quality, difficult to explain, yet existing in every bit. You know it does exist or does not, but you cannot explain it clearly in case one wishes to incorporate or imitate. I hope I have confused you enough, because that is what ‘X-factor’ stands for. Something unique and novel which cannot be explained, but seems to have enough power to make or break a thing.

   Before I lose you readers to this indecipherable X-factor, let me put it out in simple words- X-factor is something that enjoys maximum perks of the phrase ‘benefit of doubt’. Put whatever lies beyond your scope of understanding into this magical X-factor and the purpose is solved. But, the primary aim of this blog post is not to use X-factor in a conventional way. Though X-factor is commonly used for aspects such as performances on reality shows or extraordinary quality of superpowers, wouldn’t it be fun to extrapolate its meaning into usual things of our living? If we can define some unique quality of things such as food, nature, and music with the tool of X-factor, wouldn’t it be interesting and exciting?

  This gives birth to the next section of the post where I make an attempt to define X-factors of the above three elements. As you read along my version of X-factors for food, nature and music, do frame yours too. Send your feedback and comments in case they resonate with your views, and also in case they don’t!

1.       Food – It is extremely easy to talk about food. Why we love or hate certain kind of food items can be elaborated with the simplest choice of words. While during childhood, this understanding was limited to the color and look of food, as we grow up we tend to mix it with factors such as nutrition, taste, hygiene, preparation, ingredients and everything that comes to our mind. Suddenly, we become experts of the food domain as we review its taste, appeal, fragrance, color, value, price and feeling of satisfaction. Though it is easy to describe a meal, it is impossible to explain the comfort offered by a home-cooked meal from our mother’s hand. No matter how well you imitate the recipe, it is impossible to cook like your mother or even come anywhere close to it. This comfort, happiness, joy, simplicity of home cooked food resides in the X-factor. It is something obvious, yet totally unique. 

      You know it exists, but you cannot imitate it even if you wish to. On the other hand, think about your favorite dish from a favorite restaurant. Though you may make multiple attempts to re-create it in your own kitchen with same ingredients (and hesitantly, in the same proportions) with the exact recipe start to end, it may never turn out the same.

In such cases, it is best to transfer the credit to an unexplainable X-factor, while you enjoy the ordered dish without any guilt of ‘not making it yourself’! (I should stop sharing my secret ideas, but you can thank me later.)

2.       Nature- I don’t think there is any need to elaborate over this one. Everything we see in the natural environment around is due to an X-factor. Mother Nature seems to possess too many X-factors to put an amazing show on earth. How else can you explain every single aspect of natural beauty? From array of colors in a magical rainbow to mighty strength of huge mountain ranges, from never-ending extent of oceans to changing look of trees in fall and spring, from shower of rains that drench the surface of earth to perfectly shaped snowflakes in winter, nature is blessed with loads of X-factors.

I cannot think of any other existence that can force a human to admire its beauty, while being awe-struck, spellbound and dumbstruck, all at once.

3.       Music- X-factor and soulful music are closely connected. Music that leaves you mesmerized and forces you to enter into a dreamland is the right kind. If you are able to explain every quality of your favorite singer/song/genre or album, there is something wrong with it. The beauty of any inspirational music or song lies in its ability to be totally unique and unexplainable. It is one perfect moment of X-factor that strikes the right chords in your heart. And only after such a moment arrives, the song or music seems so magical in every way. Though you may hunt for more songs of the same genre or other numbers sung by the same singer, it may not replicate that exact kind of effect. All of this unexplainable magic is due to an X-factor, capable of handling the entire show.

   Though I picked these three aspects as regular examples from our daily routine, there are several other X-factors in our journey of life. Be it amazing qualities of your special someone or novel reasons you love your city, an unexplainable attachment to your house or an amazing passion that keeps you happy, alive and kicking, it is impossible to ignore the influence of X-factor.

  It is always fun to know that some form of unique magic colors and decorates our otherwise boring and predictable life.

  Hunt several such X-factors along the way and enjoy their presence to make your story as interesting as that shiny reality show, blaring from your screen! And once you find them, do share it here to give us some ideas too.