Not so much...

It's funny watching my 20-something nieces interact. There is always some kind of drama going on with them, sometimes it revolves around boys, other times it's someone in their "crowd" that they just "don't get".  The drama makes them "stressed out" and "tired of it all" and even stops them from going out to certain parties or places if "he's going to be there". I can remember being in the thick of that kind of drama when I was that age. I think we all were back then. It was part of the growing process when we took our cues from our friends and TV and Mademoiselle magazine. We wanted to be unique but the kind of unique that "fit in" with our friends. We were decidedly the same, but in a good way. Yet, we revelled in the made up whoopdydoo's that swirled around us all the time. We were finding out who we were and what it all meant.

I'm not sure when it happened - when did I stop caring about what other people think of me and just really started enjoying who I am. There was no epiphany for that. It just happened. And when it did all that made up histrionic drama went with it. In the words of that great meme, "Ain't nobody got time fo' that!" And I don't. The older and wiser I get the more I know that rolling with the flow is so much more comfortable than trying to leap the waves. I'm not saying we have to conform. Oh hell no! Far from it! I'm saying we have to accept the persons we are and get on with it.

The funny thing is, when you do that? The acceptance thing? All these crazy, exciting doors open up. Doors you might have missed or wouldn't have even known they were there! Suddenly, because you don't gage yourself by what other's see, you can really get out there and live! There's nothing to lose and everything to gain. And the other thing you learn is that all that time you spent worrying that other people wouldn't get you - well, turns out it didn't matter anyway! You see, the other people are all worrying about that very same thing. We just spent years of senseless worry! So much better just to be who you are and get on with living and enjoying every single breath!

Take risks!
Take a chance!
Give someone else a chance!
Laugh a lot!
Cry when you have to! Sometimes that can be for the silliest reasons - like a Hallmark commercial - but just go ahead and cry!
Dance!
Paint something! Even if you never tried it before. Do it! It's therapeutic. And you may surprise yourself.
Make friends. Have as many friends as you can possibly make but always know you'll only have a handful or so that you can always rely on. It doesn't matter. They are all your friends.
Give something away.
Give the gift of your time to someone else.
Stand up for something!
Write your life story. Seriously, sit down with a notebook and just start writing whatever you remember about growing up. What a great gift for someone you love.
Sing! LOUDLY! Make up a song if you have but just SING!
Dress up once in awhile.
Wear a costume once in awhile. For any reason.
Delight in the joy that other people can bring you. Be proud of the people in your life. Show them!

And most important - just be you. Because no one will be able to resist the real you.