On the Color Pink and Being Different: Be You (Quote-ivation)

I know it has been said a lot. Be yourself, be who you really are, etc. But it's true. In life, there would be times when being you might not be the best idea, but

I've learned that, after you've tried being someone else, you find yourself going back to who you really are. It is this time in your life that I hope you've already arrived at. It's wonderful. It's a point in your life when you no longer care about other people's perception of you, about what other people (even important people like your professors or boss or even your parents and friends) say about you. Not to say that I've completely arrived at it and embraced it; there are still times when diplomacy wins over personality. But the important thing is knowing who you are. Being who you are will follow.

I've gone a different route with the quote-ivation square today (it's colored and PINK!). This square (yes, I think I'll start calling my quote-ivations that: quote-ivation squares) represents more than the words in it. I distinctly remember when I was in Kindergarten and someone asked what my favorite color was. I said pink because I lked it. But when someone else in my class said pink, I thought to myself that I no longer liked pink. Not because I didn't like the person who had the same choice but because I wanted to be different and because I found out that pink was the default color for girls. Now there's nothing wrong with being different, but I think if you try to be different for the sake of being different, you're doing yourself and injustice. With all the people in this world (and all the different people in college), you'll have a hard time being completely different; there would be times when other people would like the same movies as you do, would have the same hobbies that you do, and would be interested in the same thing as you. And that's okay.

While my reaction on the color pink could be seen as a search for individuality, it could also be the lack of security in my individuality. So what if other kids like pink, too? So what if it's stereotypically girly? I like it and that's what's important. I let others' opinions and expectations influence my choice and that's never okay, especially if it's my personality and character on the line.

So be you, and don't care about stereotypes and other people's opinions. Own yourself and BE YOU.