. . . oh right, its never been "OK" to be yourself. Especially if that self is not in line with what others think is "cool" or acceptable
I can't believe I actually just said that. I mean I am by no means in High School, yet I am experiencing and observing grown @$$ people (yes I said grown @$$) treating others poorly because they are different. Shouldn't we have all learned, possibly in Kindergarten, that being different isn't necessarily bad??? We are all important! I know, I know it is said that people are predispositioned to be wary of anything they don't understand. I just thought with all of the advancements and knowledge we have now that maybe, just maybe we were outgrowing this barbaric attitude. Wow am I wrong, and I hate being wrong.
I am not putting all persons in this category but there are many more than I'd like to admit that fit into this group. I was never one to be bullied back in the day. I wasn't a "cool" person but I wasn't a "nerd". I liked what I liked and no one hated on me for it. Actually, I had lots of friends of all shapes, sizes and interests. I enjoyed science, I was good at math, I had good grades and I was in many extra-curricular activities and I loved Star Trek (shush). I went to college, I partied and I managed to get a degree. My point is, aside from all this "normalcy" I've always been drawn towards things considered "nerdy" but I've never really been ousted because of those interests. I knew of others that were ousted but I myself never truly experienced it and I tried my darnedest to not be associated with those that were so harshly judgmental. Actually I made more of an effort to befriend those being persecuted to let them know they weren't alone. I wasn't always successful but I did try to be the better person.
Flash forward a sum of years. . . some of those that were hurt back in the day have become the persecutors. Again let me say...NOT ALL...but the reversal is astonishing. People who know what its like to be an outcast for liking something different or being nerdy are the ones dishing out the judgement. And then of course there are the others that never quite grew out of the "I'm cooler than you phase".
Why am I ranting, you may ask. Well because as I get older I am not hiding what I like. Not that I really hid it before but I guess to an extent I did around certain people. Regardless, I am still me. I still love science, I'm still decent at math, I watch Sci-Fi shows & read fantasy novels and I still make friends with almost everyone (I don't hold against you for who you are, what you like, who you like or what you believe). But as of late I have been criticized for being like this. I'm too nice, I'm too agreeable and I don't "like the right things" or say the right things or even like the right people. Basically I am being told I need to grow up and be an adult. And I've watched others in various aspects of my life change themselves so that they aren't bullied for being different. But since when is being passionate about...well anything...being childish. Yes I obsess a little over fictional characters and situations but I am fully aware that they are in fact fictional and it does not actually affect my reality. Its my escape from a normal world. Yes, I have a really good life. I do, I am blessed so they say but sometimes you need an escape and that's what these "nerdy" things are for me...an escape. A time where I don't have to think about money or work or cleaning the house. I get to travel in time as a companion, hang out with supernatural creatures, be the heroine and fail miserably. There are lessons in all these stories. . .accept people for who they are because they are important and they accept you for who you are with all of your flaws and desires. What makes my likes and wants any less important than yours? So I am passionate about science and fiction. . . you are passionate about sports or maybe fashion or maybe reality TV or maybe you like playing marbles with glass eyeballs....While I do love me some sports and I dress to impress (sometimes), I am not an huge fan of reality TV. It annoys me to no end but ya know what if you like it, more power to you. The glass eyeballs is a little odd but hey whatever floats your boat. My point is I'm not going to stop liking you because you enjoy something I don't (unless it involves bestiality, murder, torture, etc. . . in that case I think there is a nice padded room with your name on it). . . so don't criticize me for my passions, please.
My lesson to my future little ones and any little ones that look up to me will always be don't change yourself because you don't fit in someone's mold. There is no cookie cutter way to be . . . if there was there wouldn't be any individuals just a mass of the same, like I don't know...like algae...hell even algae varies a little. Just be you and if they don't like you for being you than they do not deserve your friendship or love. Okay rant over. . . closing with some words of wisdom.
One of my favorite quotes from a fictional and flawed hero "Nobody important. Blimey, that's amazing. Did you know that in 900 years of time and space I've never met someone who wasn't important before?" ~The Doctor
This doesn't just apply to my nerdy side. . .this applies to people who are different in ANY way. We are all important damn it! :)
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