Dance monkey, DANCE!

When is the last time you chose something because you were concerned about how others might perceive you? Probably this morning. Like how I wet down my hair so when I’m in the backyard with the dog, it isn’t sticking up.

Why is that? With all the content about taking control of life and doing ‘what we want’ on ‘our own time’…and yet… here we are.

Like that annoying little monkey, clanging away on the cymbals. Bang, bang, bang.

Are people judging us? When is the last time someone said, ‘nice shoes’ and meant it sarcastically?

We are judging ourselves through others.

The perceived opinions are living rent-free in our heads, and we’re acting accordingly.

And it’s all performative on our part. We make our own life a stage for others to watch, and no one is actually showing up.

Is it the need for affiliation? If I wear my hat backward, I’m a bruh. If I wear those shoes, they’ll know I run 5ks on the weekend. Because others do that too.

The Apple Watch or Oura ring? Could be virtue signaling there too.

All this to say, try ‘you be you’ today and see where the monkey clangs those cymbals the loudest. You can dance with the monkey, or let your hair stick up and play with your dog.