Isn't it Ironic?

"I can't believe you made that choice."

"What?"

"I just wouldn't have made that choice."

We hear a lot about how we're supposed to be. How we're supposed to behave, live, and even choose. Since before we could walk people projected their hopes and dreams for who we could possibly become upon us.

And as we grow up....
"Want to be popular with the ladies? Just buy this cologne/deodorant/shirt/shampoo/watch."

"My life is so much better since I've lost 50 lbs. Just eat this pill/join this program/join this gym/sign on to purchase this vibrating exercise machine and you'll have a better life."

...advertisers do the same.

We're told that who we are isn't good enough - we need to be sexier, thinner, smarter, richer; we need to be more rebellious, fashionable, hippie, good, bad, conservative, liberal, eloquent, or funny.

And then we buy into it. Literally.

So then, the question must be asked. What about now?

What about who we are now? At this moment? When do we get to enjoy and revel in the person we are? Whether we're fat, thin, tall, short, good, evil, beautiful, or ugly, street smart, not so street smart, intelligent, average, or below average. When do we not have to work so hard at becoming a better person, to be more of this or that?

We're told "You're special, You're unique, You're different," and when we do things as if we are special or unique or different we're asked, "What makes you so special? What makes you think you're so unique? How are you different from everyone else?" and we're shamed into changing the way we think about ourselves.

When do we accept that yes, we all have dreams and wants, and desires that are important--but who I am in the now is pretty cool?

It's when we choose to close our eyes and ears to what the world is telling us and we let ourselves just be. Some people have already learned the secret to this. And that is pretty cool. Actually, it's more that pretty cool. It's exceptionally cool. For most of us, it comes and it goes. Phases of acceptance. Phases of feeling inadequate. And we struggle to just be. And be contently.

Ironic, isn't it? That we work so hard to become capable of that something for which we are so aptly named? A human being.


Yes, so ironic...and so human.