Entry 1: 2 - 26 - 12

Dear Journal,      2 �" 26 - 12

          My name is Taylor; at least, that’s what my friends and family call me. To everyone else, though, I have a variety of names. I’ve been called stick-lady, pig-face, ugly, worthless, freak, and a whole bunch of other things that I don’t care to repeat. Every day I walk through school, names are hurled at me left and right; just because people think I’m slightly different. My friends try to tell me that the things those people say aren’t true, but it’s hard to believe the minority when the majority pegs you as something else.

You know, we’ve all heard the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”. But, I have a hard time agreeing with that. Harsh words sting and fester like nothing else. Take it from somebody that knows.

We hear all the time that the opinions of others don’t matter; that we are who we choose to be. The thoughts behind those sayings are great and well-intentioned, but they make me wonder if the people that came up with them have ever been called names before; as in constantly. Unfortunately, our reality and society are based upon the perceptions of others, and it’s very difficult to overcome that.

Take, for example, a rose. We associate the word “rose” with something beautiful and fragrant; something that immediately makes us think of love and elegance in one of its highest forms. Now, take the word “wart”, which we associate with something gross and repulsive, and magically have everyone start calling roses warts. What happens? Our outlook of the rose completely changes. While it still maintains its true identity- that of a truly magnificent flower �"it would become a nasty, ugly wart in the eyes of everyone else because if the label it was given.

          I think that the same goes for everyone, including me. If people label you as something- whether good or bad �"and you are constantly reminded of that acquired label, then, inevitably, you will start to believe that you are what people say you are, and in so doing become that label. It’s sad and depressing, but it’s the cold hard truth of life.

 

~Taylor

Reviews

[Summer'sBreeze]

This is great Ally! Even if it's not like your other detailed work I still love this point of view!
Can't wait to read more about Taylor!