We're More Than One Thing
- Nina
- Apr 9, 2018
- 3 min read
As we grow up, we're asked what we want to be. A lawyer, a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, etc. One single thing. We're not asked who we want to become, what lights us up, or what set of unique qualities and talents we possess.
Society likes to keep people in boxes. This is how an engineer acts. This is how a teacher acts. Cookie cutter copies, full of expectations, limits, and judgments. Boxes may help us understand the world at first when we are children and trying to understand definitions and concepts for the very first time, but we are adults now, and we all should know better than to make assumptions, especially about people.
We're all unique, and we are all more than one single thing.
In my life, I've always gotten some strange looks when people start to uncover the different aspects of my personality and my wide array of interests and talents. Some who knew me through dance were surprised when they found out I was an engineer. Those who knew me from personal growth and spirituality were surprised to find out I liked metal music and horror movies. Those who knew me from engineering were surprised to find out I enjoy all kinds of art, dance, and personal growth. In school, some would judge me for how I dressed, and were surprised when they found out about my strong moral values. Or the other way around. I seemed to be one walking, talking contradiction to everyone and their boxes. I believe they were all mostly pleasantly surprised, but surprised nevertheless. And then there have been others who kept their boxes and never cared to know about the other dimensions that make up who I am. (I would be remiss if I didn't mention the fact that not everyone tried to put me in a box!)
We are beautiful, complex, creative beings. We are not meant to be only one thing. We are meant to grace this planet with all of our gifts. We are meant to experience this life in millions of ways. Do not ever think that you have to fit some kind of mold, or that something you do or think is not how someone "like you" is supposed to be. Ignore the boxes. Be yourself.
The unique combination of gifts you have is your greatest asset. These things together help carve out your unique and necessary path in this world. Others may not appreciate it at first, but you have a unique view and a key to opening doors and possibilities that they do not have. You can grow those skills and views and find a home for them among relatively similar interests. For example, I am in the engineering world. But I also love graphic design and user experience. I wasn't even aware of what user experience was or what it entailed at first, but I was still thinking in those terms, making my mark on projects that hadn't taken much of those things into account. A few jobs later, I found a company that cared as much about those things as I did, and had way more knowledge about it than I did. I followed my interests and curiosities towards something more aligned with my path and my talents. Now I can learn more on these topics, come up with my own ideas, and make an impact as I do so.
If I had tried to fit in someone else's box, I never would have gotten to where I am today. I would still be struggling to find value in design or user experience, trying to convince others of its importance. Now I'm being schooled on how important it is and all the various techniques that go into it! Learning and growing. That wouldn't have happened if I had brushed that interest aside.
You don't know how your talents are all going to fit together, but they will. Keep pursuing each of them. Life may get in the way and make you balance them in funny ways from time to time, but never abandon them. Always pick them back up. They are all parts of you, and important to your journey.
