Have you ever experienced a form of displacement? You know like…If you approach a group and join in, you interrupt. When you introduce yourself, you inappropriately interject. If you stand on a line, it's the wrong one. If you take a seat, it belongs to someone else. If you wore jeans, you should've worn a gown. If you wore sneakers, you should've worn stilettos. If you cannot be labeled, you're nondescript. If you're reserved, you're too secretive. If you excuse yourself, you're timid, but if you don't, you're rude. If you apologize, you're weak, and if you don't, you're heartless. If you reach out to others, you're too forward, and if you don't, you're aloof. If you went left, I should've gone right. If you showed up, you should've stayed home. Of course, if you stayed home, you should've been there. If you're serious, you're too mean. If you wave and smile, you're silly and foolish. The list never ends, but you get the point. Whatever you do, you're out of place; you lose.
We all experience feelings of displacement in the course of our lives. I often find myself observing and identifying behavioral patterns, however subtle, of people when they are trying to adjust to environments and/or "fit in." It's funny because whether it is riding in an elevator, looking for the designated gate at an airport, or asking the attendant at a parking kiosk for help, here's what I almost invariably see: individuals attempting to look comfortable and act natural in the most uncomfortable, if not outright humiliating, situations. For example, I step into an elevator, and everyone tries to secure a corner or wall spot. Those who don't can't quite figure out whether they want to face those along the wall or the door. Then I notice how all eyes divert. Some fidget with watches to avoid eye contact; some look up, down and others fix "death stares" at the panel indicating the floor numbers as they move. Of course, there is always that one who tries to break the ice with a witty comment. How about the guy who can't remember that he parked on Level A, so he roams around the entire parking structure passing the kiosk attendant several times looking for his car. He's puts his best face on to pretend he knows where he's going. But were it not that we've all seen him circle the structure about three times in utter frustration and despair, he'd be pretty convincing. And of course, there is that one individual who will further sear in the poor guy's sense of displacement with "You can't find your car?!"
The point is that no one wants to be the focal point of unflattering spectacle or uncomfortable situations. So in our efforts to avoid that, we sometimes engage in very funny behavior that further highlights our displacement. When I was growing up, I always looked to find "my place." As I got older I came to the understanding that my place was ever evolving. There, I found the Eklektikos, or Eclectic, which derives from various sources. But more importantly, I learned to subject my fears to courage. I embraced variability: the 'different', the 'old', the 'new', etc. So I am drawn to individuals whose creativity, styles, thought process, and presentation extend beyond the standard with authenticity. I am not necessarily interested in the "different" for the sake of difference. I'm interested in the "authentically different" because their roads are paved in authenticity and everything that is real to them. They are often the 'first of firsts' to do a thing, trailblazers, or pioneers. They are inspiring. While at first they may seem displaced in their respective industries, time often proves that they define those industries.
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