But What Will The Neighbors Think?

It’s easy to let the opinion of others dictate our lives. From the minute we grow up, we are taught how to act, what to do, and where to go. It’s a vital part of our learning process in how to become adults but eventually, those expectations and teachings can become things that only put unnecessary pressure on us to act a certain way. We say to ourselves things like ‘What will people think if I do it this way?’, ‘It won’t look good for my image if I do that.’, and ‘What would the neighbors think?’. We get to a point where we care so much about what other people think that we don’t stop to ponder what WE think of our lives. Are we happy in our current job? In our current relationship whether it be a significant other, friend or family member? Why do we put so much worth into other people’s opinions when it’s our own that we really should be worried about?

Have you ever seen the TV show M*A*S*H? It’s a show about an army hospital during the Korean war. It shares the trials and tribulations the doctors, nurses and staff went through with a comedic twist. I’ve mentioned it in another post and I must admit that I’m quite a fan. I’ve watched hundreds of those episodes in the past and never really thought twice about the fact that Lieutenant Colonel Sherman T Potter spends a good bit of his down time painting as well as caring for his horse Sophie.  He paints what he sees and sometimes things from home that he misses. He doesn’t hesitate to do so even though the art critics would probably have some unfavorable opinions. Despite the occasional snide comment from his colleagues, he carries on without a second thought.  He does it to help him pass the time and to help him blow off steam. No one judges him for showing his artistic side in a military, war filled world. His friends usually have something positive to say about his amateur paintings. He knows they may not be museum worthy and that’s perfectly fine with him. Not only will his paintings help him remember his time in Korea as he does portraits of his fellow army men and women but sometimes the paintings help him come to peace with it too. If anything, painting helps him escape the bloodshed.  Perhaps it’s his way of finding beauty in an environment that may feel lacking in it.

All too often, we put so much energy into what other people think when really, their opinion of us is none of our business. Unless something we are doing or saying is negatively affecting others, the only opinion of you that matters is your own. In a world with so many rigid expectations, it’s important to cut ourselves a break.

These are my crystal gemstones. You can usually hear them clacking against each other in my pocket. Now I must admit, telling you about them still gives me a sense of trepidation but regardless, these little stones have helped me immensely in my life. I first bought three of them simply because I kept hearing about them. I used to think they were bonkers before I tried them. The day I started carrying them in my pocket I didn’t change anything else, and I had the absolutely best day. I eventually became hooked. I don’t care if it’s simply a placebo effect; they work for me.  In this modern age, crystals can seem a bit too ‘woo woo’ for some people and I can feel some of you rolling your eyes at this and that’s okay.

My point is that they are one of my interests that can come off as odd or strange to other people. That along with the new age spiritual topics I read about and study. I used to be terrified of anyone finding out. Even telling you about it now still makes me nervous but the fact is, that this new age spiritual stuff along with these crystals have helped me grow far more in the last 10 years than anything else. I’ll even go as far to say that they have only added to my faith in God.  And because of that, I wear and carry those crystals, despite what others may or may not think.

In the end, I think its important that we embrace our whole selves, even those parts that may seem odd or strange. No matter what it is about yourself or your interests that you may feel self- conscious about, accepting ourselves for who we are is vital to our mental and emotional health.

So, go do what you want to do. Be your true self. Seriously, just do it because life is way too short to be worrying about what the neighbors will think.