Today is Teacher’s Day. And my daughter taught me a lesson.
On Fridays, her school has a different uniform (white) from the regular one she wears every other day (blue).
But Teacher’s Day is special - so she called her friend to ask, and found out that blue was the color of the day!
All dressed and ready, she walked to the gate - and came rushing back in, agitated and anxious.
“Mummy, I saw another girl from my school. She’s wearing WHITE! I’ve got to change!”
The look on her face was comical.
The lesson in her behavior was tragic.
We worry so much about ‘fitting in’. Being a ‘part of the crowd’. Relishing our ‘commoditization’.
Standing out, being remarkable, ‘different’ - is scary.
Even when we’re young.
More so as we grow older.
Yet going against the ‘wisdom of the crowds’ is what characterizes most successes.
It isn’t natural.
It isn’t easy.
It is necessary.
1 Comment Received
September 5th, 2008 @1:29 pm
I remember (vividly !) this struggle as a child, needing desperately it seemed, to fit it and feel a part of something. It was quite compelling.
Thanks for reminding me of the dynamic - with maturity, there is a tendency to forget what children go through. Our children are always being reminded by us to be authentic, to be the leader, to be OK with their unique style. But maybe it won’t hurt for us to support them even more through this conformity phase. The more they’re understood, the shorter the phase, I bet.
This post helps me to be more compassionate.
Thank you again, Dr. Mani. Always hitting home runs!
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