I challenge and lament those to whom my story doesn't matter; those that look me in the eyes with the inability to see past their own insecurities- into someone with strength beyond their own apparent norms. We need stories, unquestionable paradigms for behavior and history when everything else about us – our appearance, or language, our preferences -- are subject to definition by anyone that looks at us. This statement exudes and expresses exact emotion of what it is to wholeheartedly and unfalteringly know your own personal experiences of life- only to be shattered into broken pieces of disbelief and doubt. I feel the signature essence of my point is based on "masks" that we all put out in an attempt to embellish, rebuild, or promote who we are. In other words, our simple ability to lie in order to come off in a particular light (positive/negative in some cases) or favored opinion, if you will.
I can understand the perspective of many, stories of resiliency, buoyancy in the face of oppression is of itself a noble tale. Yet I'm pulled away, unforgiving when it's presented in a different way that it didn't have to be. An individual's ability to change their situation by hard work and motivation is in its own right amazing. Yet for some reason, many are unable to accept the simple explanation of hard work leading to success and in turn fabricating a story that is different and untrue. Again speaking from opinion, I constantly find many people that cannot believe that I have lived the life that I have; orphaned, abused, suicide, street life, college degree, war. I can see how it is unbelievable and why it wouldn't seem to connect with many. I acknowledge it is not necessary for them to believe me either, but this doubt does not prompt me to change who I am or how I tell the story. In theory I could retell my story omitting many things that would make it more believable, but why? What would I gain from it? Perhaps it is based in my confident yet uncaring outlook, or maybe my unfaltering belief that who I am should never be changed. Whatever the reasoning, I will not falter or yield to disbelievers; instead I will walk side by side with those that will accept or at least humor my story unchanged. As opposed to those that require an abridged version, dropping the pain and soul of it's resiliency in exchange for flowers and butterflies that helps the listening better relate and understand it.
Still I'm pulled towards an understanding. Is it a relation reasoning? Is it because many feel no one would relate to a person working hard for success? My understanding is that because no one could feel what the struggle was (for each person), they have to build a tale of success beyond normal means based in a person's ability to be true to their word. With that, I question why? Working hard to succeed is something that everyone does and strives for in life, what better way to tell your story because it relates to everyone that would hear it. Or maybe, inherently- our ability to stand out from the norm is the intention. Our simple spin on the truth, our "version" allows the tale to be expressively, and for the time, be completely unique. That is it, why file in with the traditional belief when one can stand above all accepted stereotypes and be different.
Yet I still will say without question, those that work hard (with or without a stupid college degree- because it doesn't matter if you have a piece of paper, because shite I have two) will in the end triumph above any odds. Cold, bleeding, broken and tired...you will succeed and I challenge you to tell the story as it is...unchanged and unfaltered tell your story of hard work without lying or embelishment...be true to what you've worked for your entire life.
and if no ones believes you or looks down on you for that story...fuck 'em!
