Ok, I'm not exactly sure where to post this, and you guys might think I am an idiot after reading this, but I just have to get this off my chest. Ok...I am in the process of "discovering myself". Everytime I begin to feel somewhat comfortable, something snaps me back to my old ways. I was brought up in a really reserved, strict house. I still live at home, which I choose to do. My mother and step dad seem to have a real problem with me not shaving. I know this is not an issue for most people, but for me, it is. I think it's beautiful but everyone else thinks it's repulsive. Also, my decision not to eat meat is attacked almost every day, by the people I love the most. Really, I am just confused. Is it ok to be who I feel like I am? Maybe that's not who really am since I am having such a hard time. It's not just the shaving and the meat issues. It's issues with the products I buy ( Burts Bees make up, all natural shampoo and conditioner, and toothpaste to name a few). Not to mention, this lilttle desire for dreads. What's going on? Someone give me some advice here.
I feel your pain. I'm a veggie, dreadlocked, nudist hippie. . . .very UN-Baptist, and I've caught lots of flack for it. On the plus side, my folks are good about being able to engage in civilized discussion, so I simply talked with them about it, asked them to find any scripture that denounced what I was doing (even the nudism, which I am able to defend), and we simply "agreed to disagree" on most of the issues. It is tough though, I get no support from "christians", most of whom are anything but Christ-like. Ghandi once said "If all people who clamied to be christian did what Christ did and said to do, there would be no problems in the world today" Read James 1. . . .
I'm sorry you are having problems with your parents. My parents tend to be close minded about some of the same issues as well and I know how that can be hard You need to be true to yourself no matter what. Remember that is it your life you are living and you need not live up to anybody's standards but your own. I think sometimes parents have an idea of who and what we are going to be when we grow up to be adults and I think that idea is that we are going to be like them.....religous, conservative, etc........and when that doesnt happen it is almost like they dont know what to do with us, or how to relate to us, and it can cause communication problems.And instead of having an open mind and trying to see another side of life, they choose to stay close minded and negative. I know that this is true with my family. I believe it is a parents job to love and protect their children and teach them about the world as best they can....but also to remember that we are not merely extentions of them (which I think they sometimes like to think) and that we are completely our own people and should be respected and loved for that. Of course all parents arent this way.....my friend Josh has the coolest parents alive I think My mother threatened to kick me out the house if I got another tatoo ( i have 3 already and this was when I was 21 and had to move home for a while) even if she never saw it and it was hidden behind my clothes, if she found out that I had gotten one more she would kick me out. And another thing she said was that if I ever get my lip pierced (which I might do one day, and already have 4 other piercings, 2 facial) that she would never look at me again even if it meant never seeing me again. Is that not crazy? See, I definatley understand the shit you have to deal with. It can be so hurtful. But I feel like if I want that damn lip ring, Im going to get it and she can loose her daughter over it if that is how she feels. Im not going to let her ignorance and close mindesness dictate how I live my life. And so if that ever happens, that she wont see me anymore over a stupid face piercing, then that's on her. I can be fine in knowing that Im living my life true to myself and for myself and I wont let negative energy from other people in my life effect me (even though it will to an extent). Anyway....so I know how you feel...and my advice is to be true to yourself and fuck the whole world if they dont like it. You wont be happy any other way. Best wishes!
