Vanity

At what point in our lives do we start to care what others think? I mean, isn't it enough that our parents (usually) love us for who we are? Why the need to try and impress those around us?

I have wondered about this for quite some time, because I personally don't really care what others thing. Once someone has made up their mind about you, there usually isn't much in the way of changing that perception. And I honestly don't care what strangers think about me because they don't know anything about me.

For example, I LOVE TOY STORES! There are so many things in there to play with. In truth, I am just a big kid...I'll admit it. The more toys, the more fun. The one thing I enjoy is going to a toy store and playing with everything...making the light sabers extend and make noises; pushing the toys that have the popcorn popper stuff in them; shooting the nerf guns; playing with the remote-control cars. However, when I do, I look around and see other "adults" giving me a weird look or looking down their nose at me. Which got me to wondering: are they ashamed that they want to do the same thing but will get the same looks I'm getting, are they jealous because I can find fun in a simple way, or do they really think poorly of me because I don't "act my age?" Is there an age that having fun in public is unacceptable? If so, I didn't get the memo.

The other thing I really enjoy is going to Galyan's (a.k.a. Dick's Sporting Goods) or other sporting goods stores just to try things out. My most enjoyable "shopping" experience was a couple of years ago I went with my cousin, Little E. We (mostly me though) played with EVERY SINGLE thing I could pick up, and he joined in. I played the foosball table, grabbed a lacrosse stick and ball and pegged E with it and told him to defend himself...which he did, but my throw was horribly off the mark to the point we had to move quickly to the other side of the store. I kicked soccer balls around with little kids (because I didn't figure the parents would do such a thing...because they're "adults"). I even helped some kid out who was looking for a skateboard helmet...and I've never skateboarded (of course, when he was asking questions, I had all the gear on from helmet to all pads, and such). The one thing that I was shot down on was trying to "ride the rapids!" In case your Galyan's is different than mine, the one that I go to has an escalator...and kayaks. We'll just leave it with...I was struggling trying to lift the huge kayak myself, and my cousin thought I might crash at the bottom.

This is how I have the most fun. When I'm there, it's just me in the store. I don't care who is around...I don't care who is looking...I don't care what faces they are giving me...I don't care what they are saying about me. I JUST DON'T CARE. They may think I'm not "acting my age", but at what point in your life do you forget to have fun? Is it the same time that you think that it is important to impress people with how you act, what you look like, how much money you make, how much your clothes cost, what kind of car you drive. I can probably guarantee you that the people who were giving me "the looks" probably had absolutly no idea what I do for a living...but see me having fun, dressed the way I do, and likely think that I should probably get a "real" job because maybe that will mature me. Maybe it's just that I'm not mature. Maybe it's just that I know how to have fun. I don't know where our paths in life have split, but I don't look at people like that, but I can see why people do.

I was driving downtown here in Chicago one day and saw a guy wearing a black leather jacket with silver studs, huge wallet with a chain, visible tattoos, mohawk haircut...you get the picture. My very first reaction was ALMOST "why don't you get a jo"...wait...I yelled out the window "be different, it's alright, don't give in" and meant it. It was refreshing to see someone else be different, even if it's just being different for being different's sake.

In the end, I'm going to do what I find fun, and when I do, I imagine that no one else is around...I have the whole place to myself to do and act how I want. I'll leave you with this: the next time you see someone acting silly/stupid/goofy/childish and just plain having fun, please note your reaction and I'd love to hear back from you as to what your reaction is and what made you have that reaction.

Cheers,
Rocco