I feel like we have so many ideals and rules surrounding our behaviour within society. Of course, this can be very good to a certain extent, in that it gives us a set of shared behaviours within society which go towards helping us understand each other and build a community that has shared values, making us feel like we belong. It also, more simply, can teach us right from wrong and can show us the personal boundaries we need to respect.
However, it seems that we've created so many rules at this point that it's almost harder to be 'normal' than it is to be 'weird'. We have rules concerning how we style our hair (is it too bright? does it not look 'presentable'?), how we dress (bold and statement pieces are looked at with a mixture of shock and awe, as if it's brave to wear them - like 'you do you', but just know it's not normal), and, for women, the makeup that we wear or even don't wear (it's either too much, or you should put on some makeup and you'll look more 'presentable' or 'prettier'). These are just a few, quite superficial examples, but there are so many more.
I love and admire that the millennial and younger generations are now slowly changing this perception and questioning it. We are redefining what it means to be normal; pulling down the unnecessary walls that have been built between us and exploring our identities and styles and creating an image that represents us in our individual-ness and authenticity, and realising that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being different, with being 'weird'. In fact, weird is the new normal. Being your authentic self, no matter how different other people think that to be, is normal and I completely support and stand for that.
I believe that we need to embrace each other and understand one another in a non-judgmental way and accept that we are all unique (so cliche) and that's the way we're meant to be as it brings diversity and originality back into society. But I think this starts with ourselves. We must first accept our own quirks and the things that make us who we truly are before we can even attempt to understand and accept others.
Just remember, you are beautiful, awesome, and special just the way you are and that I love and accept you, even if - in fact, because - you are different from me. Go ahead and be ̶we̶i̶r̶d̶ normal.
However, it seems that we've created so many rules at this point that it's almost harder to be 'normal' than it is to be 'weird'. We have rules concerning how we style our hair (is it too bright? does it not look 'presentable'?), how we dress (bold and statement pieces are looked at with a mixture of shock and awe, as if it's brave to wear them - like 'you do you', but just know it's not normal), and, for women, the makeup that we wear or even don't wear (it's either too much, or you should put on some makeup and you'll look more 'presentable' or 'prettier'). These are just a few, quite superficial examples, but there are so many more.
I love and admire that the millennial and younger generations are now slowly changing this perception and questioning it. We are redefining what it means to be normal; pulling down the unnecessary walls that have been built between us and exploring our identities and styles and creating an image that represents us in our individual-ness and authenticity, and realising that there is absolutely nothing wrong with being different, with being 'weird'. In fact, weird is the new normal. Being your authentic self, no matter how different other people think that to be, is normal and I completely support and stand for that.
I believe that we need to embrace each other and understand one another in a non-judgmental way and accept that we are all unique (so cliche) and that's the way we're meant to be as it brings diversity and originality back into society. But I think this starts with ourselves. We must first accept our own quirks and the things that make us who we truly are before we can even attempt to understand and accept others.
Just remember, you are beautiful, awesome, and special just the way you are and that I love and accept you, even if - in fact, because - you are different from me. Go ahead and be ̶we̶i̶r̶d̶ normal.
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