Putting the "U" in "You"

I dropped by the Pilihan studio this morning just to say hi to DJ Izan and to see the outcome of the henna tattoo I made for her.. and somehow she managed to make me sit and become an actual guest on her show.. we talked about a lot of interesting topics; one of which is about being different and accepting yourself for who you are. A topic which is very close to my heart.

A lot of people are afraid of their own skin, because the world out there is extremely judgemental. And people fear rejection... people fear isolation... people fear criticisms. Which is why people always try their best to act, speak, think, and/or dress like how the mainstream community wants them to be.

People want acceptance so bad - they forgot one thing: acceptance towards oneself.

How can you accept yourself when you're basically lying your way through life? How can you be happy when you are NOT you?

"Be the change you want to see in the world" (Mahatma Ghandi)

A lot of people have mentioned, before you want to learn to love others, you must first understand yourself - love yourself first. If you are afraid of being judged by people for being who you trully are; it just comes to show how much you are unloved by your own self.

A lot of people waste their time thinking about what people think of them, when in reality, others really have other things to think about than you. So why bother? Why do you want to be accepted so badly?

I know why, I felt that often since I was a kid; loneliness. People hate being alone, they hate being isolated. Well if that's the case, don't bother trying to get to know people who would not understand you. You're just wasting your time trying to crack open a mind that would always remain close. What I do? Simple... walk away, and you'll eventually meet people who understand you... who are just like you... and who actually like you.

There was this one time last year that a person said "your blog will be the most hated blog in Brunei" over something I said. I'm going to put this straight: I do not necessarily think the same way as a lot of people here. I have my own mindset; I'm not a robot that would just simply nod at whatever ideas people throw at me. If I have something to say, I'll say it. If I agree.. I'll say why... if I don't, I'll tell you why - it's that simple. And when that person said what he or she said, it didn't even bother me, I don't really care if people hate me.

People have their rights to like or dislike whoever they want. But one thing for sure, I'd rather be hated for being who I am than be liked for being someone I am not.

Growing up, I felt a lot of rejection and seen a lot of mockery. Of course, I was saddened by this, and I tried to be the person people want me to be. And you know what? I could never quite suffice their demands. And then I realise, the more I change, the more people want me to change. One thing comes after the other - nothing is ever enough. People are greedy when it comes to what they want. And so I said "f**k it". I'm tried of pretending and staying quiet just so that people like me.

I have friends who love me for who I am - and that's enough for me. And I hope others out there, will feel the same way. There's no point in trying to satisfy other people because they'll never be satisfied.

Same goes with blog haters. I still could never understand why people still visit and read blogs of people who they do not like. I have actual friends whose blogs I don't read because I find what they write a bit lame at times, but I don't go around checking it ever so often and leave hate messages. It's pointless, get over it. Why did I bring this up? After what felt like forever, I visited my CFM website, and found a recent message from an old "friend". People amuse me sometimes, but I could never understand them.

Could somebody please clarify it for me. Why do people LOVE visiting blogs that they hate and leave hateful messages?

YOU put the "U" in "you", otherwise you're just a "yo" which is basically nonsense.

With love,
Muaz Al Rashid