They see me running by, and I can't help but wonder what they're thinking. Am I a student who has just experienced a traumatizing event? and now I couldn't want to be any farther away from this hellhole we call East York? or am I just a health conscious teen who wants to get some cardio in after a day in the weight room?
Now that I give it some thought, I wonder what everybody thinks about me. I know that they all see me differently, but how different are their opinions? Am I relatively the same person or am I day to one person and night to another? It's an interesting thought, but for some reason I feel like Ruiz hit the nail on the head, in the book The Fifth Agreement. What people think of you doesn't matter, because it's only what they think. It's their image of you, not you. All you can really do is be true to yourself, don't say anything that could come back to bite you, and hope that you make a good impression where you want to.
Also, you should realize that everyone lives in own little world, where they are the main character of their story. I know it's irrelevant, and I'm unable to tie it in anywhere else, but maybe it might help you make some sense of things.
I really like this post because I have also thought about this many times. It really interests me and I think I'm going to check that book out. But personally, I don't think we are the same or almost the same to every person because we all have different perceptions, different ideas of what we like, etc. People are too concerned with the idea of what other people think about them, so ultimately they change themselves which is going to back fire on them in the end. You should always like who you are, regardless if anyone else does or not. I also agree with what you said about everyone living in their own world - it's so true. Everyone's life is a small separate world which we may find insignificant, but who are we to judge? This post captures the essence of high school haha.
ReplyDeleteNow you got me thinking. I never released how different each person's perspective on someone could be. When I think about it, sometimes when me and my friends talk about someone we have polar-opposite opinions. Lots of variation there.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maria that I have also wondered about this. But she also brings up an interesting point, is it alright to judge people or try to change yourself to fit in with how people may think that you should act? i know this is random but it relates in a way. If someone is a bully or is very condescending and that is simply their nature should we be allowed to say something? Hitler did many atrocious things that affected millions of people's lives but to him and his Nazi regime they were good. we view him as evil today but did the German people look upon him in the same light? especially at the start of his political career? and further more it is curious to ponder how Hitler viewed himself. hmm
ReplyDeleteoohhh so much to say, so little time.
ReplyDeleteThere was an app i saw on someone's facebook once that was the honesty box (I think) it allowed you to message the person honestly with what you thought of them. I thought 'this is brilliant! Finally, I can find out what people really think about me!" But I didn't have the guts to put it on my own wall. I know, I'm a coward.
Identity is such a complex topic not least of all because it is fluid. We are constantly changing, add to that different perspectives and you have different perspectives across a span of time and you math geniuses can begin to understand how many variations can truly exist. Mind boggling!
Ani DiFranco says in her song Joyful Girl:
'cuz the bathroom mirror has not budged
and the woman who lives there can tell
the truth from the stuff that they say
and she looks me in the eye
and says would you prefer the easy way?
no, well o.k. then
don't cry
which i think really speaks to the sentiment that what really matters is that you know who you are, and that you like that person. Afterall, you have to be with YOU for the rest of your life!
As for the everyone has their own little world idea...think about this:
When you die THE world will also die.
The only world you know is your world, which is therefore THE world and since no one can ever see or know YOUR world, then when you die THE world ceases to exist.
Hmmmm.....
I'd have to agree with you.
ReplyDeleteWhat really matters is being ok with yourself. If you think that you're a little too this, or not enough of that, than you'll change yourself and try to be something your not, and for no good reason. I remember that I used to try so goddamn hard to be someone who's charismatic, good natured, friendly, morally high minded, and all around a good person, but I could never live up to what I wanted to be. Then I realized that I AM! I don't need to see myself as inadequate because I'm not! Instead of trying to be something, I just had to be something. And now I no longer have to try because I'm who I want to be. No ifs, ands or buts. (btw Maria, I really recommend checking that book out. This self-acceptance/actualization is from it.)
Anyways... since the world is going to stop existing, doesn't it make sense that we should make the most of it while we are still able to?