However, if anything it's just heightened my awareness to a problem that was there all along. Ladies, how many of you scroll through facebook, magazines, online articles... and see at least half a dozen messages like: "Guys Spill; 10 Things They Wish You Wouldn't Do." or any array of messages like this, telling us that the choices we make should be that which gets us the most attention. I'll admit, albeit hesitantly, that I used to look for these types of articles. I would kid myself, saying it was in the name of human research. But to even say that is to fall into the trap that these opinions are that of everyone of a specific group, for example, the male gender.
Enough!
"Everybody needs a place. It shouldn't be inside of someone else." Thank you Richard Siken.
This is true of our identities, how we claim our being, and where we look to find our own definition. It should not be inside of another person. We shouldn't be looking to others' opinions when it comes to being ourselves. This puts something very important at risk; authenticity.
When we become more of someone else, we then lose a certain amount of ourselves. We're, then, no more ourselves, than McNuggets are actually chicken. We become "Franken-selves." A type of self that involves putting on multiple outfits, like costumes, to be not ourselves, but who we imagine a select group of people wants us to be. It's a type of self that is made up of method acting. It's a one-person production containing many characters. It's exhausting. And we only end up surrounded by people attracted to, not who we are, but the characters we play. Anyone who's been in any kind of production will tell you, that even with the endorphin rush, acting for a couple of hours is mentally, physically, and emotionally draining. So, what are you doing to yourself? How hard are you working?
When's the last time you took an identity-nap?
When's the last time you tore off your mask, got into your street clothes, and just faced the world like that?
How many people in your life know the franken-you?
And how many people in your life are blessed to know the real you?
Thanks for reading!
Em.