Perfection and Approval April 9, 2007

Now I can pretend that I don’t seek either, especially from my family but that would be a lie. I’d like to think that these things don’t matter but it’s ingrained in me. It’s been on my mind a lot recently. For years now I’ve been pondering with the idea of a nose piercing but recently I came to the realization that I’ve been dragging my feet because I’m concerned with what my family will say. I mean you should have heard the ranting and raving over my very tame, conch piercing. Lets just say my mom, aunt and brother are very opinionated when it comes to things that don’t fit into their preconceived idea of who they want me to be. I hear the “well she’s the artist of the family” phrase a lot. It’s amazing how quickly they’ll judge what they don’t understand and that they don’t want to understand. I mean at my age and with a family of my own, why on earth would I care? What kind of example am I setting for my own child if I can’t be myself— I mean why is it bad to veer from the straight and narrow? I’m not perfect and never will be— especially, in their eyes. I’ve reached the point where I’m done explaining myself and I’m just ready to be myself.

So bring on the piercing and eventually the tattoo.