Maryan Pelland, Woman with a Pen
Can we get these trend-setting influencers to back off, please? They’re driving me crazy with the lectures about being my authentic self.
Being my authentic self might mean wearing Steamboat Willie pajamas to a fancy event — maybe it’s not everyone’s vibe, but dang, comfort is everything! I don’t care what self-helpers say; I’m not going to pretend to like kale smoothies or fake-smile through stupid conversations about “social energy levels.”
When I’m true to myself, life gets simpler. It’s way too much trouble to be anyone other than my eccentric, weird, awesome self. Trendy be damned. I get younger and more beautiful every day.
Being trendy contributes to overconsumption and waste, particularly with fast fashion, as trends quickly cycle and their accoutrements are discarded faster than a push-up melts in the sun. Constantly chasing trends can be expensive, time-consuming, and detrimental to one's personal style and self-esteem—just ask the parent of any teen.
Sure, some people raise an eyebrow at my oddities, but they’re just jealous of how cool I look in that Steamboat Willie getup. Blending in is overrated. I say own your quirks, wear socks that never match, guffaw at your own jokes. Because in the end, being yourself is way less exhausting!
Yes. "Trendy" is always a red flag for me.