"'Who are you?' said the Caterpillar.

This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I — I hardly know, sir, just at present — at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.'

'What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. 'Explain yourself!'

'I can't explain myself, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, 'because I'm not myself, you see.' " (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 5).

We are raised to believe that some of the most important aspects in life are, knowing who we want to be and what we want to do in this world. Why? Why is it so important to have your life planned out when there are so many curve balls that can be thrown your way? When we are not being questioned about our future, people advocate for us to know our true selves. But the moment we decide to voice our own opinions and make our own decisions, if they do not coincide with society, we are told that we're wrong. Thankfully, in the last couple of decades, society has experienced a rip in "societal norms".

When Alice was on the river bank, ignoring the literature her sister was reading, Alice dreamt of a world that was unlike the one she lived in. She dreamt of adventure and wonder. Once she was in Wonderland though, nothing was going the way she liked or planned and everything was so different. She started feeling uncertain of her identity in this world where she did not fit in. Because of this, she became depressed. Why wouldn't she? She did not know this foreign world and she was constantly reminded that she was different. She was on this amazing adventure in this new land, but instead of taking the time to enjoy it and herself, she was more worried about getting back to the "Old Alice". On her journey to find her once known identity, she resorted to trusting strangers and their mystical drinks and foods in order to feel like herself again. Alice was so wrapped up in trying to become who she used to be, that she did not realize that being different was accepted there. At one point, she admitted "I give myself very good advice, but I very seldom follow it". Alice, is like so many of us. She could easily give advice on life to others, but when it came to herself, she did not follow it. She could have told herself that she would always be Alice, no matter what challenges she faced, but instead worried she would never be the same again.

As time went on, Alice became more wise and began accepting the fact that she may never be who she once was. "It is no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then". Towards the end of Alice's journey in Wonderland, she even found the courage to stand up for herself against the Queen of Hearts. The Queen demanded that Alice hold her tongue and Alice replied with "I won't!" Ah ha! It finally clicked. She had found her voice. Alice was no longer intimidated by those around her. She knew who she was and she knew she deserved respect. People are constantly changing and growing each and every day. The beauty in life is seeing how far we have come, even from yesterday. We get so worked up about staying a certain way or becoming a certain type of person, that we look over all of life's beauties along our individual journeys. You may be struggling/depressed right now, but look how far you have come? Look how much wisdom you have gained in this life. Your struggle will soon be your success. You will look back on the moments where you felt you were lost and all alone and realize that you overcame so many obstacles. If you were able get over the obstacles that you faced before, you're able to get over the obstacles that you are facing now. So what if you are "different"? No one how every accomplished anything extraordinary by following the crowd. Be your own person. Speak your mind. Embrace yourself (no, really, wrap your arms around yourself right now and say "I love you"). If you are ever feeling like Alice in a world of uncertainty, remember that "We're All Mad Here". Really! No one is perfect, everyone has flaws and some just do a better job at hiding them than others. You have a voice, make it heard. Remember who you are, but know that we are all forever changing and growing each and every single day. Give yourself some slack and remember to love yourself and others a little more than you did yesterday.

References:

Carroll, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, New York:MacMillan. (1865)

~The Truthful Mama