in·di·vid·u·al·i·ty
noun, plural -ties.
1.
The particular character, or aggregate of qualities, that distinguishes one person or thing from others; sole and personal nature: a person of marked individuality.
Hmm. So pretty much it means being nothing but yourself. Interesting concept considering our society's conforming pattern. There was a time when I used to dress, talk, act and think like everybody else because it made me feel like I "fit in" or belonged. In all honesty, I didn't know much better. How could I be myself not even knowing who myself is? We begin to believe that what we're attempting to be is actually who we are. That the music on the radio is really what we enjoy, not taking into consideration why we like it or what it even is. We wear clothes regardless if we truly like them thinking we do because they think they do. And so it's a cycle amongst our peers crafted by media and not-so-great role models inventing our generation of adolescents. That being said, it's pretty much like our lives our being controlled really. By choosing their ways, or what we tell ourselves is ours, we are ultimately becoming slaves to their rules of whats and hows. It's kind of like a disease or an infection. It spreads to everyone until we're all a bunch of confused humans coughing out our petty excuses of why we don't dare to be different. At some point I became too sick. The infection was taking over my heart and soul until the name on my credit card became just a number. No more Stephanie. I was now 1550797707. A statistic. And as I charged my credit card and wasted more of my identity to purchase more of my conformity, I became utterly ill. Until I hit bankruptcy, loosing all of me, I needed to get a loan. With nothing left, I found everything I ever needed in someone besides the world. At the peek of my mastery of becoming what they wanted me to be, He offered me a different rout. It was a dark and narrow path my GPS system never showed me. I had a choice between two worlds. I was bruised and weak from being completely overtaken by my illness that I had nothing to lose anymore by choosing the less appealing path. After all, what had they done for me besides take who I was away from myself. And so I walked towards the narrow road of mystery and possibility. It was a new feeling. Even though it wasn't what I was used to, I felt this warm and freeing stir of emotions I'd never once encountered in my entire walk of life. All of the sudden things that once were so important became minuscule and pointless. It was time. The beginning of a quest to find my identity through the One who gave me an identity to begin with. I didn't know who I was in an instance. Before becoming an individual, you have to do a major detox. Remove all the old ways of thinking and clutter, to make room for a whole new world. I had no idea what I was getting myself into walking down that unfamiliar yet extremely familiar path. I had no clue of everything that was in store for me down that road. After my spiritual shower, I was cleansed and ready for a new beginning. A new me. As I grew closer to Christ, I found out more about myself; things I never knew. I learned about interests I never knew I had. I learned about style that reflected my inner-self and creativity rather than what's common in the public eye. But most importantly, I discovered the strengths and passions that were crafted in my being for a specific purpose. I would have never even tapped an inch of all that I've found had I kept walking through the crowded streets of despair. All I ever wanted was to belong. What I got instead, was an eternal place that I not only belong to, but was made for. I gained truth of who I am through the truth of who He is. Before my turning point, they were in control and I was just a follower. Now, I'm still a follower, but I follow a greater cause bedsides myself. A follower that leads and an individual that thrives on being nothing but myself. That's individuality. Standing up against the tide, and choosing to be the one you were
created to be.
Sincerely,
Stephanie
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