We are all different in our own unique way. Some of us express our difference by raising our voice, through our clothing, or even through our physical appearance. At first, we may feel like the whole world is against us and doesn’t give us the freedom to express who we are. Some people stay stuck there and begin to feel the comfort of being the victim (I know it, I’ve felt it myself). Others simply understand that everything is cause and effect—and that expressing our difference means facing the consequences.
I remember that for a time, I felt like I was swimming against the current. Then I decided, “It’s easier to just go with the flow.” That strategy didn’t work for me because I felt the price was to stop being myself, and that didn’t sit well with me. So I simply stepped out of the current and observed the river flow. I understood its turbulence and learned to respect it. That changed everything. I realized that to be myself, the best thing was to understand that society is not obligated to accept me, validate me, or cheer me on for daring to show myself. That led me to work on myself, my beliefs, and to respect what the social system where I live represents.
What price did I pay? I stopped victimizing myself, I took responsibility, and I understood that everyone will see me through the lens of their own story. For some, I’ll be a trigger; for others, a breath of relief. Both are fine, and today I handle it much better. But is that a price? Oh yes, getting here has required a lot of work in self-awareness.
Today I look at younger people and recognize that, like many in the older generation, I have neglected my role as a guide (a mentor), in creating a bridge between generations. In a way, we had that — our parents were our guides. The younger ones today have been flooded with “role models.” We allowed them to hold in their hands a tool that answers every question and easily leads them down dangerous paths. Their search for their own identity is attacked every second, and the only thing we have “taught” them is that older people are annoying and just want to control them. We thought we wouldn’t become the old ones.
At 43, I’m part of that generation that, as children, had responsibilities and saw our elders be adults since their childhood — and I didn’t find that very cool. So as I grew up, I wanted to enjoy being an irresponsible adult. Recent events, however, have made me understand that I want to be responsible and embrace my role as a mentor through experience — to teach that being different comes with a price, and to guide others so they can decide if they’re ready to pay it.
Technology has helped us find people who are different, like us, but it has also distanced us from real life — from the rules of society and from understanding how to coexist within the system.
PD: Translation by ChatGPT
Versión en Español.
El Precio de Ser Diferente
Todos somos diferentes en nuestra única manera, algunos expresamos nuestra diferencia alzando la voz, con nuestra ropa o incluso con nuestro físico, al principio sentimos que todo el mundo esta en nuestra contra y no nos dan la libertad de expresar lo que somos, algunos se quedan allí y comienzan a sentir la comodidad de ser la victima (lo se yo la he sentido), otros simplemente entienden que todo es causa y efecto y expresar nuestra diferencia requiere afrontar la consecuencia. Recuerdo que por un tiempo me sentía luchando contra la corriente, luego decidí "es más fácil segir la corriente", esta estrategia no me sirvió porque sentí que el precio era dejar de SER yo y no me sentí a gusto, luego siplemente me salí de la corriente y observe el rio fluir, entendí su turbulencia y aprendí a respetarlo, eso cambio todo, entendí que para SER yo lo mejor era entender que la sociedad no estaba obligada a aceptarme, validarme, ni ha hacerme porras celebrando que me atreví a mostrarme, eso me llevo a trabajar en mi, mis creencias y respetar lo que el sistema social de donde vivo representa, ¿qué precio pagué? pues deje de victimizarme, me hice responsable y entendí que cada quien me verá desde los ojos de su historia, para algunos seré un detonante, para otros un suspiro de alivio, ambos están bien y ya hoy día los manejo mejor, ¿pero eso es un precio? o si, llegar aquí ha requerido mucho trabajo en autoconocerme. Hoy día observó personas más jovenes y reconozco que como la generación mayor he dejado de lado la guía (mentoría), el crear el puente entre generaciones, nosotros de cierta forma lo tuvimos, nuestros padres fueron nuestras guías y los más jovenes han sido innundados de modelos a seguir, dejamos que les pusieran en la mano una herramienta que les responde cada duda y facilmente los guia por caminos peligrosos, su busqueda de su propia personalidad se ve atacada a cada segundo y lo único que les hemos "enseñado" es que los viejos son un fastidio y lo que quieren es controlarlo, creíamos no ibamos a ser los viejos. Con 43 años soy parte de esa generación que siendo niños tuvimos resposabilidades y vimos nuestros mayores ser adultos desde su niñez y no me pareció muy chevere, por lo que al crecer he querido disfrutar de ser una adulta irresponsable, los últimos acontecimientos me han hecho entender que quiero ser responsable y asumir mi rol de mentor desde la experiencia, enseñar que ser diferente tiene su precio y guiar para que puedan decidir sí están listos para pagar el precio, la tecnología nos ha ayudado a encontrar personas diferentes que se parecen a nosotros, pero nos ha alejado de la vida real, de las reglas de la sociedad y cómo convivir con el sistema.