|
 |
 |
| Pond People
vs. Fishbowl Folk
Are you a follower, or do you make your own
path?
B Y M A G G I E G U S E M A N |
The goldfish is a cool little creature,
isn't it? Not only does it make a cute and cuddly pet, but it knows how to adapt
to its surroundings and never outgrow them. In some respects, people are just as
adaptable as goldfish, but while we don't necessarily outgrow our physical
environment, we can and do outgrow our psychological ones. If you consider the
human environment, most everyone seems to fit into a couple of categories--as
either Pond People or Fishbowl Folk.
Pond People are like the lone goldfish in
a big pond--they are very comfortable with who they are, and can therefore look,
think, and act any way they like. Pond People can be the source of ridicule
among others for not being like everyone else, but they can also be a role model
for girls who want to grow bigger and better as individuals. Society prefers to
have a lot of fishbowls instead of a couple of ponds, though, so Pond People are
kinda rare.
It is important to be
able to step away from the crowd--too many girls hurt themselves physically and
mentally by thinking that they have to be like everyone else.
Now Fishbowl Folk have a much tinier
environment and therefore can't grow as much. Quite often, these girls are
dependent on others to determine who they are, and they never make a decision
without first carefully weighing how others might treat them--this way they have
the security of knowing exactly what their limits are. From a goldfish's
perspective, being one of the crowd probably isn't a big deal, but a goldfish
will never have to deal with peer pressure or a poor self-image. You, however,
probably will. That's why it is so important to be able to step away from the
crowd--too many girls hurt themselves physically and mentally by thinking that
they have to be like everyone else.
Next
Page...
|