Have you ever tried to fit in to a group, or even just with one or two other people? Some people just want to fit in, to be part of a group. Or even maybe they just want to have a friend! These things may sound juvenile, even a bit crazy, but a lot of people just want to be accepted and they will do a lot of things to try and make that happen.
Maybe you change the style or color of your hair to look more like the others. Different style of cloths to look more like the others. Some people can change how they talk, what they watch or read, all as a way of trying to fit in with one person or a group of people. Some people say that unless they do these things they do not measure up. They think that in order to be popular, stylish, or cool, they have to look like the other guys or gals that they want to be friends with. Maybe you will even fabricate a story or embelish one to make you appear to be hip and more like the others.
Guess what, for many people that is how they become part of a group, or get a friend. We start watching ESPN, or other sports, even if you don’t like them. Maybe you start tyring to loose a bunch of weight, or gaining a bunch of weight so you can look more like them. These people may act like friends or like they have accepted you as a part of the group, but have they accepted you, or a wanna be of themselves? And let me tell you, that kind of trying to conform will ultimatly not work. I know that for a fact!
Most people will not measure up to what the culture says at a certain time, oh yeah they can try, but as soon as it is reached, the culture will change, or the group or friend will move away or change to fit into another group. Yeah it is crazy, and maybe some of you reading this no exactly what I am talking about, while others may think I am nuts! Yup, I am sure it is both!
It is a difficult thing to be wanted, accepted and not get it, or to just get it on the very surface, enough to make you feel accepted, but not really including you in things. Again, maybe some of you have no idea what the heck I am talking about, maybe because you are that group, or person that others want to be like. I have spent the last few weeks actually looking and watching people at work, church, in the store even in our neighborhood, and it is really out there. It is part of our society, and always has been.
I would like to leave you with something, some people are not as good in sports as others, some are not as good looking as others, and some really just need to be accepted for who they are, with the weaknesses and strengths that each one of us has. Maybe find somebody this week, that is not like you, and talk to them, find out who they are, how they are doing, and maybe you can be thier friend, even if they are not like you!!
Life Above the Grinds 