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Be Yourself, everyone else is already taken – Oscar Wilde

Of all the quotes that I go through on a daily basis, I think this one struck too close to the heart. 

I think the 'trying to be someone else' syndrome is more common amongst girls and ladies than boys or men. That is because society and the media feeds girls with the image of how we should be, how slim we should persevere to be, the type of love we should expect from our other half, the kind of kids we should have, the kind of life we should expect when we love those around us....etc.

In today's society, it's even more worrying and suffice to say that I have become thankful that I do not have daughters. If I did, I would have to spend considerable time and effort to assure them that not everyone have to be like the Olsen twins and that Paris Hilton does NOT have a perfect life. And no, you should not turn yourself into one of the Kardashians to be popular amongst your friends.

I think of all the things that I wished my parents taught me as I was growing up is this – that it was OK to be myself. That everyone's OK with me being me. Watch the people around you, watch your child and you will see a pattern...them wanting to be better and the yardstick is often one coined by the media or society.

Developing societies and countries are fantastic but the suicide rates in some of these countries is, if not sickening, worrying. Women, men and children alike measure their lives, their achievements and their looks to those that they think are noteworthy. And then those who are being put on the pedestal find it hard to admit that they TOO have problems just like everyone else. It's a vicious and unhealthy cycle.

People should be made to understand that the only way to happiness is to be one with oneself. Be at peace, be happy with what we have been given. Partake in everyday life knowing that you are here as you are for a very good reason and whatever you have can and will enrich the lives of those around you. And vice versa...the way people are can enrich yours.

So, let's just be ourselves and nobody else.  

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