I saw this question and it got me thinking about my adolescent years. I used to always wish that my peers would somehow know certain things about me that I couldnât explain. I wanted people to know how nice and caring I was in spite of my silence. I wanted them to know that I often daydream and if I walk by without speaking is not because I am rude, I am just in my own world dreaming (you literally would have to yell my name to snap me out of it). I wanted people to know that Iâm habitually uncomfortable in large crowds and I tend to shut down. Itâs not because Iâm uninterested, I just do better in one on ones than in groups. In groups I tend to quietly fall back and let others shine. I also wanted people to know I am not stuck up or thought I was better. I was just shy and timid. I wanted people to know that I donât often let people in, because Iâve been hurt a lot. I keep people at armâs length to protect myself, because some people take my kindness for weakness. I wanted people to know that I have a silly bubbly side, but around strangers and acquaintances I can be looked at as serious and reserved. I wanted people to know that I might come across as tough, but I have feelings too and I bruise easily. I wanted people to know what was easy for them wasnât necessarily easy for me, because all of my life I dealt with anxiety.
Throughout my whole life I was often misjudged. I felt like no one knew the real me. The only people who knew me besides close family were the people who really took the time to break down the wall I built up. I hated that people thought I was this person that I wasnât. Some of the things that they thought I was couldnât be further from the truth, but once someone really got to know me, they were surprised. Most of the time I was never the person who they thought I was. Nowadays I am a little more open and people can see who I am as soon as we interact. I still get prejudged a lot beforehand, but they can usually see who I am after the first interaction. I am not as closed off as I used to be. It was tough growing up feeling misunderstood, but as much as I wished people knew who I really was I feel like it was a blessing in disguise. I think it helped mold me into the person I am (character wise). It bothered me then, but it doesnât now. I actually laugh now when people tell me their first impression of me. So I guess the question would be What You WISHED People Knew About You? These days I hope people can see the real me, but if not, I am okay with it. Iâm not worried about it, because as long as I know and love who I truly am, then thatâs all that matters. Iâll leave you with one of my favorite quotes from Marilyn Monroe: âIâve never fooled anyone. Iâve let people fool themselves. They didnât bother to find out who and what I was. Instead, they would invent a character for me.â đ Have a great night everyone.
Elle Reyđ 