There is so much pressure in the world today to be someone else. Jealousy trickling around every corner and the media setting guidelines on how you should dress, what you should look like and even the things that you should like. It is crazy that in this time of expression, we are still being blindsided into human beings with no originality. I do not know one person that hasn’t watched a movie or even just seen someone walking down the street and thought to themselves “dang if only I looked like that.” But the truth is … we were all created in our own special way and that is important.
Self-esteem in young adults and even kids is at an all-time low. The media tells you that you can not be who you want to be because it is not “cool.” When in reality, people appreciate the real you more than the superficial you. There is a big big world that you are in and finding who you are and who you want to be is exciting while you are growing up. Playing dress up and basically using your imagination to build up your own world. But, why does that have to stop? Why do we not want to use our imaginations and explore the world the way we do when we are kids? Expressing yourself should grow with you and not just stop as soon as you put technology in your hands.
It is time to stand up against the media and society telling us to be something that we do not want to be. You should be able to dress however you want and feel good in your own skin. Wear what makes you comfortable and makes you feel good. It can be difficult to stay true to yourself in today’s society, but overcoming that is the fun part. There is something free about being who you are.
In my opinion, being around people who appreciate the same things as you and people who share interests with you is a lot better than being in a situation that you are only in because of someone else and not out of your own choice. Don’t let the media control the things you do. If you want to drink six milkshakes in a day, then go ahead and do it. If you want to buy a shirt that you think you look fantastic in, go ahead and do it. The moment that you let what others think of you go out the window, the sooner you get to enjoy what it feels like to be happy.
I have never felt more comfortable in my own skin than when I am listening to a song that I really like, surrounded by people who I actually enjoy spending time with. When you choose yourself over what the media is telling you to be, you will feel a load of pressure come off your shoulders.
Freedom of expression is one of the best perks of being human. So why not take advantage of that? There are so many things in the world that you can go see. There are so many varieties of concerts to go to, clothes to wear, food to eat, houses to buy, places to explore, and people to love. The moral of this story is, be yourself and follow your dreams. As cliche as it sounds, it is important to be yourself. Originality is such a fantastic quality and taking advantage of that is just so much fun.
(all gifs courtesy of giphy.com)