Everyone wants to fit in. It makes us feel good, but who is the one that set these standards that make us “fit in”? It can be easy for people to lose touch with who they really are especially since we are told “no” by those around us from a young age. Elizabeth Accetta, a social worker, has stated that we try to fit in with those around us because it makes us feel better about ourselves. As individuals, we like to be accepted by those around us because it makes us feel good. No one likes to feel bad about themselves, and yet we sometimes mock those around us to be accepted. That leads us to the main issue: people want to feel good throughout their lives and no one wants to be alone. If they are alone, then that means no one accepts them and then that feeling of not being liked can drag us down; then we do not feel good about ourselves.

Remember when you were a kid and you were just able to play all day and not care about anything else? Well, you aren’t alone. When I was little, all I wanted to do was have fun and laugh. I did what I wanted to do at the time. I never really thought about what I was doing, I just kind of did it. I was never afraid to be silly and really just let loose. Now that I’m older, it is nothing like that; a really big concern of mine is what people think about me. I care way too much about what others think about me, and I’m not alone. I asked six people if they care about what other people have to think about them and what they do and how they look, and they all said they care about the opinions of others. No matter who we turn to, someone is going to really want to impress someone at some point or another so we make mental notes and we try to change ourselves to be accepted by those around us. This is simply not right.

What is normal exactly? Who exactly set the ‘norms’ we know today, and why do we choose to follow them so strictly? People don’t realize that it is ok to be themselves and live their lives how they want to. In the end, it is up to you what you choose to do, up to you and no one else. People are very quick to judge and make assumptions about something or someone that is “different,” but who really cares? If you are doing something that will make you happy, that is all that matters.

* photo via Google Images under the Creative Commons license