Do you dare to be different?

Hey, I'm a Filipino too. :) Over here, to be beautiful is to be fair, thin, and have straight hair. After being conquered by Spain for over 300 years, and then the Japanese and then Americans, we are exposed to their features for a long time. Since they are different from us, we consider them beautiful. I guess it's colonial mentality. And also media nowadays overly propagate that image of beauty so our mindsets I guess are homogenized. I myself am not fair, not thin, and definitely have curly hair, and I hate it most of the time. Because until I was 3 yrs old, I had straight hair and am really fair. Then I started playing outdoor sports so I got darker and my hair got frizzy because of who knows what. My mom keeps on telling me that I look fine. I am unique. And I guess I am. I mean, you can't blame people for wanting to fit in right? I do try to fit in. I wear regular clothes, you know, jeans and t-shirt and sneakers. After all, conformity helps keep order in a society. I don't put all my energy into looking different because I don't want that kind of attention. But if there are times that they get weirded out by what I wear (because there are days when I go crazy) then so what right? I admit, I think being different is scary sometimes. But yes, I do dare to be different, even if it's only about trivial things. Like practically everybody my age is addicted to anime. I'm not. I don't watch it. Almost all of them likes the Pussycat Dolls. I don't. (I don't hate them or anything, just not into their genre and all that skin and booty shaking) I'm the only one among my friends who watches wrestling. I don't care. I like it. For me, no matter what you look like, as long as you're happy, then there's no problem. Just remember this: somewhere in this world, someone would love to have as unique a beauty as yours. Be a proud Pinay! :)

GOOD FOR YOU!!! That is the best way to deal with a problem like that is to lift your chin up and hold it high and try to ignore the whispering and the comments. It kind of reminds me of a song by the band, Bon Jovi. It is called, "Have A Nice Day". In the chorus, Jon Bon Jovi says, "When the world gets in my face, I say Have A Nice Day!" I use this as way to deal with the rude people of the world. Am I different, yes I am. I broke the mold and continue to crush the broken pieces. lol I just go about my business and my life and if people don't like it, TO D*MN BAD!

I think that you did the right thing. You should not even worry about how people think of you or say about you. I don't mind being different. Who cares, you have to be comfordable in your own skin or you will never live happy. We only have one lifetime and you should enjoy it no matter what you look like. I went through that sometime ago and then people started to relieaze that I could care less about what they say, and they just didn't say anything no more. Good Luck!!!

Good for you. Be proud of who you are and how God made you. I have always been a bit different too. Think how boring the world would be if we were all the same. You have had such a rough life I feel God is preparing you for something great in your life.

First off, welcome to myLot where 99,000+ members come from 205 different countries. We can't be much more different here. haha In fact, the only thing that isn't different is that we communicate here in one language. Oh yes, and one other thing - we are all red on the inside. haha Children are cruel the world over. I had warts on my hands and big ears and so I was ribbed a bit. I did have the advantage that I was big and good at sport so I knocked the bullying out of others. Violence wins when you are young. haha. I lived in Africa for many years and there I was the opposite to you, a white skin in a sea of black and ok, I wasn't a child by that time, but you still got the same silly bullies playing the race 'ticket'. The other 99% of people were fine though. You will always be different, thank God, because we all are. You are different at the moment because of your looks in the location you live in. If you moved back to your tribe and lived there, you would be different because your horizons had been expanded by travel and education. If you moved to Harlem in New York or Brixton in London you would be different because of your knowledge of your home country, about which 99% of your new neighbours would know nothing about. Move somewhere else and you and I could be teased or ignored because we weren't rich like them. As you get older and wiser, as do the people you mix with, your 'difference' as you see it, will become an asset rather than a hinderence. Enjoy yourself!

I've always been different. People would always be mean to me because I am different. I always felt out of place like I didn't belong anywhere. It took me a lot of years to find me, the person I really am. I am different & would not want to be just like everyone else like I thought growing up. Now people envy me because I am different & I make it know I am different & don't care what they think.

I love to be different. In fact, I can't live without being different, it's in my nature, so I actually NEED to be so. Being different is satisfying because it gives a sense of self-worth when you find yourself a little separate from others. It gives me the attention I need and also enhances creativity.

good for you. it must have been tough growing up but it looks like you've taken everything positively. just keep up the attitude. who cares what everyone else thinks right? as long as you're not hurting anyone while being real and while being who you are.

I have always been different and now that I am much older, it is the one thing that I love the most about me. Not only do I dare to be different, I prefer to be different. I don't want to be like anyone and I don't want anyone trying to be like me. No one in this world can beat me at being me.

I believe every individual has its own differences not just the physical but of different aspects. Dont be shy of what you look like. Yes maybe you are different from a native filipino and you should be proud of it. Having a dark skin doesnt mean you are not beautiful so cheer up. Dont let other people ruin you as a person. Just be yourself and enjoy life. Stay positive and trust God. God bless you always! d=)

I will not allow anyone to change myself, I believe that each of the world's peole's vision is different.If only to meet them, and change their time goes by,they will lose their self-change palsy, To others were not live, as long as enough, it does not matter how others said,To believe that you are unique,Good luck.

What's the point in trying to be like everyone else? I strive to be different. But in today's world, everyone "tries" to be different so everyone ends up being the same anyway. You just have to be who you are and love what you are. I don't realy care what society thinks because they don't control me. I like being a little different. It would be a sad, boring world if everyone were the same.

Well I dare to be different too because I would never do something that is not me, and that is against my morals just to fit in with a crowd. I am me, and if people dont like it and want me to change, then they are obviously not the type of people I want to be around me.

There is nothing wrong to be different. If you know inside your special then dont worry about it.

I know how it feels - I've been there. I've lost control of myself - always listened to people's opinion, tried to be somebody else am not just to please them! I was so scared to come out from my shell because I couldn't bare to hear their comments. People think that I am vain - if you have seen the movie legally blonde (well, am not a fan of pink color or as vain as Elle Woods) but you see I dressed up so differently, always proper and color coordinated. That wasn't vanity - I was brought up that way being the eldest and the only girl in the family. While other students in the University wear tong sandals or simple slippers, I wear healed shoes. I don't speak the local dialect as well so people were shunning away from me. It was really hard especially because I was a newcomer to that school. It took me half a semester before I learned the local dialect and learned to dress up the way majority of the students do. I was on my fourth year when I realized I wasn't been myself for the last three years - and there was resentment on my part. My fourth year was my turning point - I've dared to go out, to be different. And it was such a wonderful feeling - being reunited to myself, recognizing and honoring the things I wanna do and wanna be. Up until now I enjoy being myself, expressing myself - my emotions and everything =).