The great Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best.
The great man was a library of entirely profound quotes, quotes that are in many ways eternal. The great Mr. Emerson sadly passed over 130 years ago and still……to this day – his quotes are being shared, enjoyed and publicized worldwide!
Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quotes are a great source of positivity in the ever challenging environment we live in……….that is the modern world!
Sadly, being “you” is often a common challenge facing today’s generation.
The youth of today grow up believing they have to “match” or “compete” with their peers. We’re led to believe that being alternate or different is wrong or a cause for ridicule and question. We think we have to have had ‘X’ amount of girlfriends/boyfriends by a certain age, we have to play or be a fan of our countries most popular sport in order just to be “liked”.
Boys grow up thinking they have to be great at Soccer/football. They’re also led to believe that being “tough” is best displayed by how many fist-fights they’ve partaken in. Amongst all that, society leads them to become slightly ashamed of any alternate or eccentric interests and hobbies they may have – girls may not “like” them if they play an instrument or they’re into classical music, maybe they read historical books. Of course, society deems these pass-times “uncool” and “weird”.
Girls grow up thinking they have to have developed breasts by a certain age, have nothing other than perfectly straight hair at all times. They also mustn’t wear or like any other colours than bright pink! If multiple guys at a time don’t have a “crush” on them, then they must be ugly? Right?
If you don’t wear makeup everyday and have a top of the range phone by the time you’re ten years old, you’re just not worth knowing. That’s what they think!
It may sound extreme, but think about it, that kind of stigma and pressure is all too present in the children of today’s development in life!
Those who are different endure questioning and have demands placed on them for an explanation, yet those who follow the herd of life NEVER face questioning.
Why is that?
Why do we not see someone part of a group, following what their “friends” are doing (in absence of what their heart truly WANTS to do) and ask them……….”WHY?“………….”Why are you not discovering your personal identity?!“
It’s a valid question, a question which the answer would intrigue me greatly.
Even as far back as the times of Ralph Waldo Emerson, social pressure clearly existed prominently.
Hence today’s quote, the real challenge is being who you truly are.
Please let me urge you to accept and embrace the challenge, accept who you are and start learning to truly love yourself exactly as you exist deep down and externally.
If there’s something you’re yearning to do and you’re unsure if you should because you fear “un-acceptance” from the people in your life, yet you spend every waking hour dreaming, thinking and imagining yourself on the journey…….then you absolutely MUST act now, follow the heart!
The discomfort of being “different” will not compare to the pain of the soul………the pain felt of regret, the pain of not doing what your heart truly wants and asks!
Never be ashamed of who you are, keep pushing to learn, be better everyday.
Keep pride in what sets you apart from anyone else, harness those skills, talents or interests.
Remember, real friends identify and appreciate the unique qualities in you!
If they do not, then they aren’t really a friend at all.
Be you, always.
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