We all wear masks. If you tell me you don't or NEVER have, I would have a hard time believing you. A mask is anything you hide behind. Anything that conceals the REAL you from the world.
We all have a desire to "belong", to "fit-in", and to "be apart"
Ask almost any preteen girl if they would rather stand out from the crowd or blend in with the crowd...I'm sure 99.9999% would say blend in.
The fact is the mask wearing game isn't just something preteen girls struggle with.
We all chip away at ourselves and carve ourselves into something we are not in order to feel more socially acceptable. We don't want to be alone, we don't want to be rejected, we don't want to feel unloved. We don't want to feel worthless.
We are forced the view point that in order to "belong", we must fit into a certain mold. This mold was made by Hollywood to say that celebrities are better than you! When in reality, most celebs wouldn't even fit in their unrealistic goals if it wasn't for plastic surgery and photo shop!
The world sets out to tell us that:
- If your hair isn't perfectly styled, it's a mess and you should wear a hat
- If you aren't a size 2, you're fat and should have zero self-confidence
- If your teeth aren't perfectly straight or white, you shouldn't show the world you smile :)
- If you have a blemish, you need to buy all the expensive make-up and cover yourself in it
- If your opinion is different, you keep it to yourself
- If your voice squeaks, don't sing your heart out
- If you cry you are weak
- And if you speak out against the public opinion, you are an extreme rebel
The Bible even says that we are to be a "peculiar person"...and "not to be conformed to the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind."
What are we teaching our youth?
We are basically saying that being different is a curse...being a little weird is shameful...and having a unique personality should be looked down upon.
Let me just say, if everything and everyone was EXACTLY the same...this world would not be nearly as interesting or fun! In fact it would be down right boring! It's true what they say..."Variety is the spice of life."
You may be reading this and thinking to yourself "I don't care what Hollywood thinks!", but what about your family? What about your class mates? What about you co-workers? What about that friend you claim you can "completely be yourself around"? Do you care what they think? Do their opinions of you matter?
You act one way at home, another way at school, another at work, another with you best friend, another with your significant other, another at church...whew! that has to b hard to keep up with! Have you ever worn the wrong mask at the wrong time...I sure have!!
While writing this, one song keeps popping into my mind. It's called "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking" by Blake Shelton (you can listen to the song here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xXD9-1mLBY&ob=av2e) AS the title tells us, the song in a nut shell is Blake asking someone special to him "Who are you when I'm no looking?" Do people have to wonder if you act differently when they aren't around, or are you consistent in you personality? If someone was to tape you on a Friday night and show it on the power point in church on Sunday morning...how would that make you feel? Would that change you church friends opinion of you? Let's turn that around, if we recorded you on Sunday morning and showed it to your "group" on Friday night, would they be surprised?
That's something to think about...
I don't want to sound judgmental, believe me I am definitely speaking to myself. My college friends and my church friends have a very different view of who Racheal Riffle is and what Racheal Riffle stands for...and I am not proud of that. In fact I'm doing everything in my power to change this...what about you? Don't be afraid to stand up and stand out. Be proud of who you are. Rip the mask of your face and show the worl the real you. Sure, some may not like it and some may not agree, but in the long run you will be a much happier person.
"Let the world know you as you are, not as you think you should be, because sooner or later, if you are posing, you will forget the pose, and then where are you?"
"We all wear masks, and the time comes when we cannot remove them without removing some of our own skin."
"Accept no one’s definition of your life, but define yourself."
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind."
"I'd rather be hated for who I am, than loved for who I am not."
Live...Laugh...Love
Until Next Time,
Racheal <3
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