Perception
Is your idea of me really what I’m about? And does it matter?
A few days ago I met someone who I briefly met once, a few years ago.
After some idle chitchat, the conversation started getting a bit more personal, and this person started describing their first impression of me, which he created in his head a few years back.
He described me as shallow, aloof, self-absorbed, a label-queen, someone who only hangs with the A-list, who only shops at Woolies, lives from restaurant to restaurant… and the list goes on…
I was initially taken aback by it but proceeded to defend myself to tell this person who I really am.
As I was sitting on the grass, barefoot, with a beer in my hand, I told this person that I’m actually just a small-town boy who just happened to live in the big city. I’m down to earth, loyal, sincere, honest, well-read, well educated, I like walking barefoot, I drink beer from a bottle, I wear T-shirts and jeans and I spend time with people who are real and sincere.
I do out-doorsy stuff, I go camping, i’ve traveled all over the world, I have a sense of adventure and I do a killer braai!
It didn’t take long for him to change his opinion about me, but this then made me realise that everyone’s perception of you or me is different.
Those who know me might see me as described in my version. Those who see me from a distance might have a completely different view of me.
It made me think.
It made me re-think the way I perceive people.
Deep down in all of us, we have some or other insecurity, and sometimes we build up walls to protect others from coming into that space. Allowing others to only see what we want them to see.
Social media networks like Facebook and Twitter also adds to this.
It allows us to only ‘show’ what we want to show. Create these so-called perfect lives in an online capacity where very few “facebook friends” or Twitter followers really have access to the REAL you.
But all that aside, I live a fully transparent life and I share highlights and low-points but still protect myself from others out there on occasion.
Another comment thrown in my direction that day was whenever I walk into a club, or a bar, I put my “don’t talk to me” face on.
Again, that barrier to protect ourselves from others we don’t know.
But what if we break down these barriers, take off those “don’t talk to me” masks, smile and greet people at gym, be truly interested in other peoples’ stories… be sincere… What a different world we’ll live in…
Just a thought.
Next time you see me out and about, smile and wave.
You might just make a friend…
And we all know, a stranger is a friend we just haven’t met yet.
LS x
A few days ago I met someone who I briefly met once, a few years ago.
After some idle chitchat, the conversation started getting a bit more personal, and this person started describing their first impression of me, which he created in his head a few years back.
He described me as shallow, aloof, self-absorbed, a label-queen, someone who only hangs with the A-list, who only shops at Woolies, lives from restaurant to restaurant… and the list goes on…
I was initially taken aback by it but proceeded to defend myself to tell this person who I really am.
As I was sitting on the grass, barefoot, with a beer in my hand, I told this person that I’m actually just a small-town boy who just happened to live in the big city. I’m down to earth, loyal, sincere, honest, well-read, well educated, I like walking barefoot, I drink beer from a bottle, I wear T-shirts and jeans and I spend time with people who are real and sincere.
I do out-doorsy stuff, I go camping, i’ve traveled all over the world, I have a sense of adventure and I do a killer braai!
It didn’t take long for him to change his opinion about me, but this then made me realise that everyone’s perception of you or me is different.
Those who know me might see me as described in my version. Those who see me from a distance might have a completely different view of me.
It made me think.
It made me re-think the way I perceive people.
Deep down in all of us, we have some or other insecurity, and sometimes we build up walls to protect others from coming into that space. Allowing others to only see what we want them to see.
Social media networks like Facebook and Twitter also adds to this.
It allows us to only ‘show’ what we want to show. Create these so-called perfect lives in an online capacity where very few “facebook friends” or Twitter followers really have access to the REAL you.
But all that aside, I live a fully transparent life and I share highlights and low-points but still protect myself from others out there on occasion.
Another comment thrown in my direction that day was whenever I walk into a club, or a bar, I put my “don’t talk to me” face on.
Again, that barrier to protect ourselves from others we don’t know.
But what if we break down these barriers, take off those “don’t talk to me” masks, smile and greet people at gym, be truly interested in other peoples’ stories… be sincere… What a different world we’ll live in…
Just a thought.
Next time you see me out and about, smile and wave.
You might just make a friend…
And we all know, a stranger is a friend we just haven’t met yet.
LS x
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