
I am no bird, and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.
~ Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre
Hmmm, when your time comes, will you face into the wind?
There comes a time in everyone’s life when you are challenged to come to terms with who you are. It is not simply about understanding how all the pieces come together although that is a part of the equation. The bigger step is when you decide, or decide against, saying and meaning: For better or for worse, this is who I am. Take it or leave it.
Taking your stand will not sit well with everyone. There will continue to be people who will want to mold you into what they want you to be so you will follow them. These people will take an active dislike to you and you must be okay with their discontent.
There will be another category of person who will preach to you that must continually step outside your comfort zone and stretch yourself. You must be okay with telling these people to piss off and leave you alone. They will be persistent. You must be equally persistent.
I am not saying that you can give yourself carte blanche to thumb your nose at anyone you please. Discretion is the better part of valour and of common sense. There are times when saying nothing is the most appropriate response and speaks for itself.
I am saying there are also some tough choices you will need to make.
You will need to decide that it is better to be alone than to be with someone who does not respect who you are. The state of being alone is neither a penalty nor a trial if you actively chose it. Learn to enjoy your own company.
You will need to find the courage to stand on principle which can come with sacrifices attached. It can mean the end of some relationships. Sometimes you will do this publicly and sometimes privately. There is a time and a place to speak up, and a time and a place to hold your peace but also hold your ground.
You will need to cultivate the ability to think for yourself. This means listening to that innate sense you possess regarding truth versus lies. If alarm bells ring in your head, listen to them. Examine the evidence for yourself and draw your own conclusions. Facts can be easily misrepresented. The truth remains to be found, but only if you seek it out.
You will need to be prepared to go against the flow of the group or against the general consensus. Make no mistake. This is not easy to do. You will be an outsider. But know that there are always others on the outside with you even if you cannot perceive them.
You can be blown by the wind of opinion or face into the wind. Choose wisely.
~ Now Available Online from Amazon, Chapters Indigo or Barnes & Noble: Hunting Muskie, Rites of Passage – Stories by Michael Robert Dyet
~ Michael Robert Dyet is also the author of Until the Deep Water Stills – An Internet-enhanced Novel which was a double winner in the Reader Views Literary Awards 2009. Visit Michael’s website at www.mdyetmetaphor.com or the novel online companion at www.mdyetmetaphor.com/blog.
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Tags: be yourself · face into the wind · metaphor · Michael Robert DyetNo Comments