FREE TO BE
It'll Be OK.
One of the funniest things I saw at the beach this year was a little towheaded toddler who, after digging in the sand for a while, looked up at his family and proudly announced, “I pooped!”
I’ve never seen a family move so fast. I was still laughing when the little guy’s granddad grabbed him by the hand and yelled, “Come on. You’re such a wreck!”
Personally, I love little kids like that toddler because they’re so innocent & so honest. It makes me sad thinking about how fast society teaches children to put on social masks -- so people will like them.
One of the greatest things about getting older is actually becoming your own true self again -- not caring too much about what other people think.
When my granddaughter joined the University of Michigan Marching Band, I finally had my “Break Out Moment.”
I live in Ohio where it is considered almost sacrilege if you’re not willing to die for the Ohio State Buckeyes. People are excited to show up at the office wearing custom-made socks, ties, headbands, jewelry, t-shirts, sweatshirts -- while yelling O-H <> I-O back and forth to each other so they can fit in with all the other Nuts. And, anyone saying anything good about the “school up North” will definitely be labeled a CRAPPY person.
It was 5:30 AM – really dark along Route 23 except for the headlights flying by on their way to Columbus. We had just finished lighting my 8-foot “Luv Michigan Band – Hannah’s Grandma” sign when the 5 band buses from Ann Arbor came over the rise. As the caravan of buses and State Patrol cars sped by, I felt my cellphone vibrating in my pocket.
“Grandma, we saw you! Our bus driver just announced over the loudspeaker, ‘Ladies & Gentleman, if you look to the right you can see Hannah’s grandma.’”
I was still smiling when my husband grabbed the sign and yelled, “Run, Jan, Run! The sheriff is coming.”
Honestly, I didn’t care who was coming -- no one was ruining that magic moment for me. A deputy came speeding down CH 121, flashing his spotlight on me yelling, “What are you doing out here?”
I looked up -- just like that towheaded toddler -- and proudly announced, “MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS IN THE MICHIGAN BAND!”
Even though it was pretty dark, I think I saw a smile on his Buckeye face. “Okay, then,” he said. “Just be careful! We don’t want a wreck.”
It’s not surprising young people often hide who they really are to fit into certain cliques. According to Maslowe’s Hierarchy of Needs, belonging is a MAJOR human need. People are social creatures that crave interaction with others. As people age, however, they often become uncomfortable with the masks they’ve been wearing and start revealing their true selves.
Maslowe explains that people who suffered some kind of trauma or difficult circumstances earlier in their lives may struggle with this personal growth. But achieving true love & friendship requires letting go of the past, accepting oneself, and embracing one’s own strengths and weaknesses.
No wonder it takes almost a lifetime to find one’s tribe.
“I was going to get one of those greeter jobs at the discount store until I found out ‘Kiss My Ass’ still doesn’t count as a greeting.” ~ Maxine ( Sorry I couldn’t resist )
FOR WHOM OR WHAT ARE YOU WILLING —TO STAND APART FROM THE CROWD?
Wings of Blue ~ Where’s the Skydiver? Above the crowd!
Jan~I’m still smiling! I especially enjoyed the band story. I am a transplant to Ohio from Pennsylvania ~ Nittany Lion territory. My family were all Penn State through and through until I raised 3 daughters who had the nerve to graduate from The Ohio State University. When my dad was still living, he would either wear his PSU shirt/ Buckeye hat or OSU shirt/ PSU hat. Who knew you could never say Xichigan again?🤣🤣. Way to go proud Xichigan Gma!😉
It is sad that the innocence of children doesn’t last longer and the influence of our society is so quick to steal that innocence and replace it with falsehoods and “masks”. My hope is that some of what Graham has opened up for those of us in this community....being authentic, integrity, following your heart, stepping outside of your comfort zone and more....we can use to help our little ones(older one, too) to be themselves. I feel that, as a single mom raising my 3 daughters from the ages of 8,5,&2, I was too much in survival mode and only recently have I stepped into some of these things.
Thank-you for sharing this!
Jan, when I was reading this, everything you were saying was what I was thinking about writing in my story. I just couldn’t put it in to words. I loved everything you said.
It is so easy being a child then growning up and putting that mask on because you want to fit in. As you grow for some the mask comes off easily, but others it’s hard because of that trauma. When I read that tears filled my eyes because that was me. I at times still have that but I’m learning to say well pretty much what you said Kiss My Ass. I’m 56 now and really don’t care what people think of me. Thank you for making me laugh she’d some tears and to remember that taking the mask off was the best thing I could have done for myself. Congratulations on your Granddaughter being a Buckeye band member there is nothing more than being proud of Grandchildren. Take care and God bless.