Be What You Want

I used to, and still do, view other people — especially those who’ve been highly acclaimed — with a special reverence, as if they were mystical and their characteristics were divine. I felt that I was ordinary, even boring, and I wanted to be like those other people.

Those other people are called idols.

I think, however, that they feel and act almost the same way I do. They’re not as magical or mystic as I once imagined. Here’s an example to explain why this is so: when I was in elementary school and I looked up to kids who were older than I was — even those who were in the 5th or 6th grade — I viewed them with a sort of distant admiration and mysticism. I thought that when I’d reach their age, I’d be older and cooler and generally more special. But when I’d reach their age, I’d feel, think, and act exactly as I had years before. The same thing happened in middle school — I viewed the high schoolers with that same fascination. And now that I’m in high school, I can say that it’s nothing special. I feel exactly the same as I did when I was five.

Instead of feeling simply ordinary, though, I think they may try to act certain ways — how they want to act. But I’m not completely sure. Maybe everyone does this to some extent. I, for one, don’t actively do it, or notice myself doing it.

In any event, it’s best to pretend to be who you want to be — in other words, to be who you want. Although I wouldn’t recommend trying to copy someone else. Sure, take hints from what you observe: if you get an idea from a particular way someone thinks or acts, and you think it would benefit you, try it out. But don’t do it for the sake of trying to be like that person. In other words, take what you want from others, but don’t be other people. Observe. Learn. Change. Be what you want — not who you want. After all, you, as a “who,” are made up of all your individual qualities, experiences, habits — your “what”s.