I took my family to the waterpark yesterday and couldn’t help but notice how many people were sporting tattoos.
Young and old, black and white, rich and poor – tattoos were everywhere.
Bear with me as I voyage down metaphore lane… While observing all these tattoos, it occurred to me that I was never really part of the ‘in’ crowd. I realized early on that doing what is popular is often dictated by people who didn’t have my best interests at heart.
What is popular is typically easy. Tattoos are available to anyone with a couple hundred dollars and a bottle of tequila. Being part of the in crowd means adapting to their ways to fit in and get along. Sometimes it’s just wearing a logo on a shirt, other times it’s participating in activities that can change your entire life for the worst - it just depends.
Overall, we all want to be accepted. It’s difficult to stand apart from the crowd and do what’s right and important for you.
Friends and family will resist. C’mon it’s only 10pm the night’s still young.
Get used to it. Resist this resistance. It doesn’t matter if you adapt or not, to find your own self and your own success with life, you have to do it alone anyway – if you’re lucky, you’ll find a partner who will take the ride with you..
In the long run, we must all make our own way and find our own path. This path may involve getting a tattoo or it may not, but what’s crucial is making the decision that is right for you and your future, not what’s good for the crowd.
{ 6 comments }
Brad,
This post reminds me of a great ‘demotivational poster’ at despair.com. The image shows a crowded herd of Zebra and the caption reads:
“Conformity: When people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate each other.”
That one always makes me laugh!
Andrew Seltz
The Go-To Guy!
http://www.AndrewSeltz.com
Brad,
It takes courage to be ourselves.
Specially when the environment around us expecting something different.
From the family where we grow up, to the school, and ending even at work.
We grow up and being taught that we have to fit and do what is expected from us to be accepted.
And the crazy consumerism culture is making the best to sell more and makes more money.
From the “loosing weight” ads on TV, to the cosmetic products.
They are all sending the message that we have to be accepted and fit.
I agree with you. I always wonder why so many people just follow the crowd. Good post.
I have tried to email you fefore but you never answered. I alnmost want to buy your product but would not spend money if I did not know for sure if the product was good for me. ALSO, i DO NOT TRUST SITES THAT JUST SAY “GUARANTEED” This means nothing if you cannot trust the person behind the promise and I do not trust you yet. If you communicated to me personally and if I could get to sample or try out your product first then I’d know if your product was good for me. I cannot waste valuable time and money just trying out things…. and I do want a softwware that will help me coach and discipline myself and I don’t get it” what your stuff can do
Richard
Richard, which email address did you use? my gmail? I am not seeing it there – I was vacationing last week so I might have missed it, but none of my email addresses are showing a message from the email address you used to post here
I can understand that some don’t like the word Guaranteed. Marketing is a discussion for another day tho
I’ll try your email you used to post this comment and see if I can answer your questions.
I feel there are some situation though were people are not just getting tattoos to fit in. There a bunch of people who use their body as a canvas to express their beliefs or even pay tribute to a loved one. Tattoos may seem like the “cool” thing to do but it is ultimately one’s decision to permanently ink up their body.