Why Conform?

I am sure we have all heard the saying 100 times over. But have you really stopped to hear or make sense of the quote. Maybe perhaps dissect it. By definition a journey is travelling from one place to the other. Therefore there is a starting point and a finish line. 

You may argue that races have the same, a start and a finish, the difference being, that a race is a competition to see who is the fastest, or the best. 

Life certainly is not that, because who wants to be the first to cross the finish line, therefore meaning, reaching death and who can define the best, as we all have various beliefs. Thus your belief of the best at the time of death can be a completely different perception of my best.

The question we all have to ask ourselves is who are we to judge, who are we to say or think or believe that our way is the the correct way. I will use the example of fashion, trends that come and go and so we see things that maybe different to the current trend and think, 'oh weird they would dress like that' on the contrary there are those who may be the ones who do not like to conform to trends and like to be a little more individualistic. 

Who is correct in their thinking the individualist or the conformist? Is it both or is it neither? I believe we are asking the incorrect questions, I believe we should ask ourselves, why do I feel that my thinking is superior to theirs? Human nature says, we will not address this question and the reasoning behind it, is we live in a world far more primitive than we care to credit. It is simply a survival of the fittest mentality and is saddening.

I believe people should have the freedom to be themselves, People should not feel threatened or inferior based on their belief, sexuality, faith, colour, marital status, gender or any other factor that we are asked to declare on any form to which we register for services. Why do government and companies request this information. Can people not see that by asking these questions to start with, they create the divide? 

If these questions were not asked on an application or an electoral registration, etc, then perhaps people could begin to accept, that their differences,  are not something that matter, the fact that they are human does!!! 

Perhaps this may give people the freedom to believe, that it is okay to be themselves because being me, is enough and I am worthy, regardless of my sexuality, or my belief, or the colour of my skin or my gender, that I am here today because I deserve to be. Perhaps people who suffer from depression and anxiety will feel more open to speak of their suffering and realise that they are the very people who bring hope and strength, because daily they overcome obstacles no one is aware of.

Maybe we need to ask ourselves, how intellectual are we, if we cannot embrace people's differences, if we cannot use each others strengths to progress society? Instead we feel the need to supress other peoples talent to make ours stand out, this is not civilization, it is barbaric. And so the saying was born..., 'Life is a journey, not a race?' 

I recently shared with my daughter about her ability vs her peers and  I asked her, 'Who was reading at an earlier age?' the point I made, was irrespective of who got their first, they could both read now. You see, it makes no difference, who thinks what when, when the we get to the finish line, we have all completed and participated in the journey called life! 

Who got their first, depends on who started first and who is the best at the end, well, only you know the answer to that. A colleague of mine recently shared her thoughts on being the best version of yourself, and as there is only one of you in the entire world, only you know if you ended the journey as the best version of yourself. 

So I ask  you, why conform, I don't mean in terms of fashion etc, I mean, you need to realise you are unique, you are special, you are the only one like you and no one can tell you what to think, or how to act, you need to aspire to be the best person you can be. If you can accept that there are things in you that are different, be it the way you dress, the way you think, analyse or live, the sport you like or don't you are you,  and so being the best of you is enough.

I am a reborn Christian and I believe in Jesus, He is my hope an my future, does this make me superior to any other person on earth, NO!!! It makes me human and in need of redemption, but it means I have a hope, I believe I am unique.

I also believe you are unique, what you believe, whatever the colour or your skin, your origins, your sexuality, you are unique and you should celebrate!!