The Term "In Style" is Subjective

Growing up, middle school was my least favorite of my elementary education experiences. Not because the classes were hard, or I had mean teachers. No, middle school sucked because of the social life and air that accompanies the attitudes of the hundreds of adolescent angst ridden preteens that attend it.  Now, I know and understand that everyone had that time in their lives where they were unsure of who they are and trying to find their place in the groups at school. This particular part of this post is just about mine.

Now, at the school I attended, I was picked on for several things; mostly things I couldn't control. My hair was naturally platinum blond and I had skin that matched a porcelain doll. I was also skinny as a pencil and had not hit "that time" in my life so I didn't look very feminine. (It probably didn't help that I wasn't a girlie girl and hated pink, glitter, dresses/skirts, makeup, etc.) But, I had my own style that I was comfortable with. (Physically.) My wardrobe consisted of maybe two skirts and a dress I had to wear for my aunt's wedding, along with a ton of worn out t-shirts and jeans. Comfortable tom-boy was my style.
Unfortunately, I was picked on at church every Sunday as well. (Not a place you'd expect to find bullying going on...but there you go.) Just about every boy I had a crush on either ended up being best friends with a dreaded bully or put me right into the "Friend Zone"and made me feel horrible.

It took me 20 years to get over the ridiculous crap I went through socially growing up. I went through all sorts of styles and phases from Comfortable Tom-Boy to Wanna Be Prep to "Emo kid" to Grunge to Comfortable to City Chic to what I am now. Now, I'm me. What's better is that I love being myself. Changing my style to "fit in" or "please" other people just made me more miserable.

What's even better is that all those boys that were cruel look at me now and I can see in their faces how surprised they are and how much they feel like idiots for treating me the way they did.

I'm me and I'm proud and confident. I don't need to be what society calls "in style" to look good or be happy or have friends. 

...and I'm okay with that. =]