Embrace your uniqueness

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My youngest sister would jokingly complain about how people would chat her up using Chinese or Hawaiian references, because people assumed her ethnicity. I would get asked for directions in any East Asian language and I find it very amusing. I made small talk with someone who began ranting about how he was always mistaken for a particular ethnic background and that he would be treated badly at shops which he assumed to be because of his appearance and accent. Despite being highly educated.  Meanwhile, a former schoolmate unburdened herself of her sadness on social media, because she was tired of being told that she needed to change her appearance.

To rationalize all this, I realized that perhaps the acts of aversion we receive from people may be due to the twisted fact that we somehow do not conform to whatever norm exists in whichever place. There is a temptation to blend in--speak a certain way, wear certain garments, pretend to engage in certain activities. At the end of the day, it becomes exhausting. It is less stressful to be one's self. As in the Shakespearean "to thine own self be true." I once read that to be different means to be "limited edition."

I am sure no one is exempt from feelings of insecurity. However, the variation lies on how people choose to deal with these unnecessary stressors. In relation to a previous post about dealing with those who debase what we value--when our identities are devalued, we can respond in a number of ways. We should definitely choose our response wisely. Choke on tears, admit the hurt. Just don't concretize your violent-Thor/Godzilla/Mr.Hyde tendencies. Not cool.