Be Yourself

"Be yourself.  Everyone else is already taken."

I keep this quote from Oscar Wilde at my desk.  I think it speaks volumes in just seven little words.  Because it's something that terrifies most people -- what would they think if they really knew what I was like?  Oh quelle horror!!!

I have not necessarily been one to shy away from being myself or speaking my mind, although I feel that there are certain things that I have been quiet about for far too long.  This is one of many reasons, I suppose, that I did not find myself in the upper echelons of the popularity pyramid in high school.  I didn't play the game; I didn't stand idly by and let a friend of mine get picked on in order to save face.  I had a strong sense of what was right and wrong and acted accordingly.

I recently came across a quote from Johnny Depp that I also find pretty appropriate to this mantra. 

"If there's any message to my work, it's ultimately that it's OK to be different, that it's good to be different, that we should question ourselves before we pass judgement on someone who looks different, behaves different, talks different, or is a different color."

Now here is a guy who is not afraid to take risks with his career.  He does what he wants to do and the projects that he likes (although I do think he and Tim Burton may be secret lovers--kidding!).  If the public likes it, then that's great, but he doesn't seem to be bothered by what the critics say.

So why is it such a scary thing to be your own person and be true to who you are?  Time and time again, when popular celebrities are interviewed, they talk about being unpopular in school and awkward in their own skins.  Why isn't this sinking in with young people?  I am encouraged by the efforts of Ryan Murphy and the show GLEE.  He has purposely created characters that are flawed, but stand tall and declare out loud that they are not afraid of a slushy in the face.

So what this boils down to is something else that is hopefully food for thought and most definitely worth repeating:

Who you are in high school, and whether you are popular or not, does not dictate who you will be.


Here's a little song from a few of my GLEE friends to help you along:

Theme Song #6:  It's Time by Imagine Dragons (as interpreted by Blaine and the cast of GLEE)
http://youtu.be/ArW6SvANU-0

Flabulously yours,
Selina