Quote of the day (6/9/14): Being True to Yourself

Today's quote of the day is about being true to yourself.

“To be natural is such a very difficult pose to keep up.”
-Oscar Wilde

In a world that is constantly trying to change us, it is hard to figure out who we truly are. We have advertisements telling us that we have to wear this perfume to attract this type of guy. We have magazines telling us that we have to way x amount in order to be seen as “normal.” We have the fashion world telling us what we are supposed to wear in order to be seen as “trendy.”

When we were teenagers, we had all sorts of cliques in our schools. We had the popular crowd who wore the latest trends (in my day, it was the Nike and Fila sports shirts, or the mid driff shirts, flare jeans, or the mini skirts and Spice Girls shoes). In my day, we also had the “grunge” crowd decked out in flannel shirts, baggy jeans, ratty hair, the “I don’t care” attitude, and always rocking out to Nirvana (God bless). We also had the gothic crowd. The crowd that practically lived at Hot Topic. The crowd that dresses head to toe in all black, listening to death metal, plotting the end of the world.
Somehow, in the midst of all these cliques, society still wants these young men and women to be what society wants them to be. Teenagers end up losing their sense of self, always feeling as if they are not good enough. Some end up conforming to what society expects them to be. Others fall through the cracks, and instead of society helping them get back on their feet, society steps on them. Society shuns them. It’s as if they are not good enough to be a part of this elite group of people who have “made it.”

Folks, I don’t mean to come down on society. I just think that we should be able to be ourselves, and be a part of society. Each one of us has something to contribute to the world.

I happen to be one of those who “fell through the cracks.” I didn’t attain the “American Dream.” I’m not a part of the elite 30-somethings who are rich, married, and with children. I’m poverty level, unmarried, no kids, and somewhat disabled. In society’s eyes, I am someone who “just doesn’t try hard enough.” My response? “I don’t care what you think.”

Society doesn’t live inside my home. Society doesn’t see how hard I try to live. Society doesn’t see that I do earn money by writing. I’ve never been someone who has fit in. I’ve always been on the outskirts. Even now, I don’t fit in anywhere. I sort of float around. I know how hard I try. The people who are around me know how hard I try. They know my situation, and I know my situation. Funny part is, people say I do TOO much. I actually need to step back and rest MORE.

Society is not my friend, and I’d rather stay true to myself than to fit into someone else’s skin. Even though it is hard to be myself in a world that is constantly beating me down, the more they beat me down, the harder I fight back.

Friends, no matter how hard it is, always be yourself. Don’t let society dictate who you should be. Society doesn’t know you.

©2014 ShaunaSilva
(photo courtesy of: Me-ShaunaSilva)

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