Member-only story
The Many Versions of You
A Ballad of Self-Worth
Many worry about being loved and accepted,
Being understood and cherished.
And there is no harm in that.
But instead of wanting to be seen as a better person,
A better parent, or a better worker,
Would it hurt to accept the way we are perceived by others?
Would it hurt to see in ourselves what they see?
It’s pointless to spend so much of your precious energy
Into trying to shape how others perceive you;
For one fundamental reason: there are many versions of you.
And no matter what you do,
Others will only embrace one myriad version.
Only one to accept as truth.
For some, you are a benevolent angel,
The purest version someone can think of -
Always aiding those in need
And guiding young minds toward their best selves
For others, you may be charming but arrogant,
Smart but shallow and naive.
Neighbors may see you as a healthy, fit, and strong person
Who moves swiftly past people, objects, and challenges alike,
Having time for exercise but not for community engagement.
For some, may seem unexciting,
Leading a simple and unremarkable life,
Engaged in a nine-to-five job with mundane tasks.
Some may find you attractive and alluring,
The storyteller of exciting and humorous stories,
Whose presence many long for
And secretly wish they could have it forever.
But which version of you is true?
In a way, all of them are.
The many versions of you exist on one’s unique level of perception,
Created by somebody’s filtered and molded reality.
A reality shaped by their lenses and experiences.
