Knowing yourself

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say and not giving a damn. '' -Gore Vidal

Isn't that a great quote? The most interesting people in life are those who know who they are and simply refuse to conform to the expectations that society has placed on the roles of age and gender.

I was recently telling a friend how I hate golf. I don't get it, really. All day long out there following the little white ball around. It bores me. I tried it, I tried to like it, but I simply hate it. This friend said he doesn't love it and was realizing, he doesn't even like it, yet he goes every weekend because his friends go. How many people are doing these type of things because they feel like they have to?

TV commercials and clothing ads suggest how you are supposed to spend your weekends, do you follow suit? Now I'm using golf as an example, but this can be anything. I you love golf, then do it in excess, but if you are fulfilling a pre-determined identity that has been dictated to you, stop-stop now.

Another example- a woman friend was telling me not long ago about how she avoids going to family dinners. There is this expectation for her to marry, have lots of kids and become mother of the year. That's not the lifestyle for her. She's a brilliant woman, successful, beautiful and so impressive, yet she goes to family functions and she is made to feel like she is a failure because she carries a Coach rather than a diaper bag. Why does this happen? Why do people feel the need to impose their agenda on others and worse yet, why do you allow someone else to question your life choices?

Refuse to conform, find yourself, and as Gore Vidal said in the quote above, be yourself and don't give a damn.

Have a great weekend.