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.©2019 ajs Bert Berger
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Passing
Thoughts
Coffee
anyone?
-
Dismembering
Eroticism - The Abolition of History -
How we see ourself
|
Do we have an Identity Crisis?
In general, most of us
think we know who we are. In some instances, this
might be the case, but going into a new
environment like a restaurant or cafe we've never
been to before can make us conscious of our
self-image. Subconsciously, the question of
whether we fit in, whether our personality gels
with that of the other guests, becomes if not
paramount, then at least one of the things we
have to consider.
I don't live in a city
where people walk around a lot. This is America,
a place where people, even for the shortest
distances think they need to use a car. The char
her defines as much of one's social image and
personality as the clothes you wear in Paris,
Zuerich, Milan or Vienna. The only people walking
here are health nuts or joggers. Even they don't
walk, more often than not they rush past you
wearing earphones linked to phones, oblivious to
what's going on around them. I'm neither of these
types. I'm just a guy, an older guy to be sure,
trying to stay active by talking long walks early
in the mornings and trying my best to work out at
my local gym so I can stay fit. That is what
defines me.
Lately, I have noticed even
on the walking trails it's easy to feel like an
outsider someone who doesn't fit in. What
do you need to fit in, you may ask? As far as I
can discern, its the right shoes, the right
sportswear and a load of the latest technological
gadgets, preferably iPhone with earbuds, Fitbit
fitness tracker, compression anything and who
know what will be next. The top of the line are
the preferences of most runners and cyclists, but
what about an amateur like me? Do I need all of
this stuff? Does it make my day more enjoyable,
my workout better? So far, I haven't missed most
of these things, but does not have them make me
an outsider?
The other element that
seems to define people is age-related behavior.
If you don't have kids and grandkids or live your
life through them, you tend to forget about your
age and sometimes forget you're now sixty instead
of thirty-five. Of course, I firmly believe in
the age-old adage of your only as old as you
feel. But not all people seem to see age this
way. Nowhere is this more noticeable that when an
older man speaks to a younger woman. In my local
cafe eyes roll if someone notices me talking to a
younger woman. I'm sure they're wondering, is he
trying to pick her up? Sometimes the woman
herself may be thinking the same thing. Whereas
the truth is I"m just trying to make
conversation with my neighbor, as one often does
in a cafe. It is only one case in point, where
you see yourself one way, and others see you in
another. Often identity is flexible and can be
influenced by whether others are friendly towards
you or jealous of you or in some cases
unsatisfied with their lot in life.
The most important thing I
can say about identity is: you should have the
courage to remain true to yourself. Never mind
what others are thinking or how they perceive
you. As long as you are comfortable in your skin
the happier, you are likely to be. Maybe you
don't wear the right labels or speak like a hip
teenager but, that should define who you are. You
are at the end of the day who you believe you
are; you don't have to let society define you.
Define yourself and live your own life!
Do we have an Identity
Crisis?
©2019 ajs - Bert Berger
This story, or any
part thereof, may not be reproduced
without the written permission of the
author. The scanning, uploading and
distribution of the story via the
Internet or in any other means, including
storage in any form of information or
retrieval system, without the expressed
written consent of the author is illegal
and punishable by law. The exception to
this is if newspapers, magazines or other
reviewers wish to quote brief passages in
connection with a review.
.
.If you want to contact the
author, send an email to
.
.bert45@interpublishgroup.com
.
.You
van also use the information on the
.
. contact
page
|
©2019 ajs -
Bert Berger
|