The pedestal: You know, that thing family members and friends of family members tend to put you on. It’s generally only that one “lucky” child or grandchild who's held to such high standards, and the "non-pedestaled" kids think the view is best from up there simply because once on that pedestal, you can do no wrong.
You're the fun child, and everyone thinks you’re amazing. You’re an angel...and then you grow up. However, the pedestal stays. Others try extra hard to keep you the same. But things have changed. You’ve changed. All of a sudden not as easy to be as perfect, and frankly, most of the time you don’t even want to be.
Then the idea of going rogue comes to mind. Do wild things because if you're held up there on your pedestal, the world seems vast and limitless. You keep secrets, but somehow people find out. And even if you were the one to tell them, somehow your down fall has a glass half full effect.
I’ve realized there comes a time when wit's end is reached, and the angelic persona everyone else holds you to starts to become a shadow. A grey storm cloud hanging over your head that walks around with you. Then you start to think about whether or not it's worth it to live up to who others think you are.
Is it a responsibility? I was raised in a life of praise and accomplishment for the better portion. Is it wrong of me to want it to stop? Do I hurt myself in trying to maintain the image? Or hurt those who created it by not staying true to form. Choose self — be true to yourself.
It’s going to be hard for anyone whose up there to get down, but choosing yourself is a good start. Start to do things for you and no one else. Remember all those wonderful accomplishments that warranted praise in the past? Now just do something awesome and don’t even tell anyone. Because it’ll be like a weight is lifted off your shoulders once you doing something to please absolutely no one but yourself. And there is no expectation to constantly do better if no one knew your starting point.
Be unapologetic. If you didn’t meet an expectation perfectly, don’t feel like it's going to affect the people around you. They may have put faith in you but did not need to gloat about it. Do your best, and don’t worry how it affects the people who thought you would do better.
Finally, make mistakes. Because I’m sure you never thought you could do that before. Whether you’re the star athlete, a scholar, mentor, artist, or a combination of the above, it’s OK to break the standard you held yourself to.
Not to say you need to let go and stop being who you are, because in some aspects that pedestal gave you a quality not many people have — ambition.
Gain inspiration to go for something someone said you couldn’t go for. Exceed expectations — those of others and your own. Because although these people may have helped in giving this life to you, it’s yours.
So jump off that pedestal because your strength lies in your flight, in how you navigate live, not in how you view the world above the heads of others. Dive into your own mind and own yourself.
