THE BRAZEN FLARE OF THE UNKNOWN
And my Father had to ask me where my feet/legs had
disappeared to, ‘feetless at this moment.’ I told him. Shaking his head, he walks away with an amused look on his face as all
grownups seem inclined to do, as if to say “Kids these days!”
Perhaps I’ve become used to it, the stares
of disapproval from strangers who know nothing about me and through some
supposed miraculous revelation judge my differentness. It might have stemmed
from years of wearing baggy jeans and boob-cut shirts for Christmas when most girls
my age wore skirts and dresses, or the drawer of weirdly shaped trousers I
happily wore to play-meets. But realistically, there’s only so much wardrobe
choices for a child who likes to climb trees or play obstacle race with her
brothers. Surely staging wrestling where I pretend to be the Undertaker is no
easy feat with a skirt or wrapper holding my legs together or constantly making
me worry about accidentally flashing my ‘ring’ partner and the audience my
underwear. (I admit I was some rascal child).
It’s relatively a tricky thing for a girl
who has always loved comfortable clothing to be judged on the very premise of
carrying on with this culture after childhood perhaps in more urbane (and
slightly crazed) fashion. It’s quite okay I think to be a Tomboy at least they
seem to have integrated well into most societies so far. But to not fit into
both sides of the coin, the “girly girl” or the tomboy hasn’t quite been as
much understood. Especially in a very conservative city like Minna.
If history has taught us anything, it is
that people tend to be overly cautious of things they do not know. They’d
rather shun it than try to understand it. They would perhaps submerge reason on
religious contexts or coarsely scrutinize it through their own self-coined
ethos on morality. But the unknown remains a delicate subject every so often
met with disapproval.
Labels are part of a coping mechanism
society has devised to stay abreast of judgement. To be part of the unknown
means you do not fit into a myriad of definable labels, which apparently is not
normal.
Belonging to the unknown, the weird, the
misfit has not bent me. There is however an unexplainable charge that emanates
from belonging. It surges me forward to embrace who I am, to embrace the stares
and unsolicited comments from people asking me questions like “don’t you feel
out of place?” or plainly stating “you dress weird, you think weird, you’re
just weird.” They say it as though it bothers them that I am unfazed, unashamed
and awfully comfortable with who I am. Perhaps this is what makes me brazen,
the thought that I make people question the norm.
So, I remain in-between in a lot of things.
I wear the labels I give myself and if being an unknown is also a label by
default, I embrace it. I mean it’s like being some badass extra-terrestrial that
has been at least seen… (humour me!)
Wear what you’re comfortable with, be it
realistic or not. Be who you’re comfortable with whether people will accept it
or not, it usually isn’t a smooth ride but there is nothing better than being
true to one’s self. In the end, you and only you are accountable for your life
and the decisions you make. Perhaps you’re big on showing skin or you carry
your face bare of makeup, own it. Maybe you’re a girl who hates pink or a boy
who loves it, do not make people question your preferences or sexuality based
on colours. It is incredible how there is no authentic proof that colour is
gendered at all!
It would please
you to know that I felt like a badass Harajuku-Victorian trotting down the
streets in this outfit. With all the eyes staring towards my general direction
(I couldn’t pay mind to the emotion those stares relayed trying to focus on my
swoon worthy poses. lol) I’m sure If Buhari had driven down the street no one
would have noticed.
I obviously
joke!
I
remain your faithful weirdo.
P.S, do leave me your amazing comments down below in the recently battled demon of a comment box,(amateurish coding dilemma people!)
P.S, do leave me your amazing comments down below in the recently battled demon of a comment box,(amateurish coding dilemma people!)
Wham
Bam! With love, x EJ
Last
Week.
Book
// Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Music
// Future looks good by One Republic
Movie
// Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock
2 comments
Very witty and humorous post. I just stumbled on your blog and although not really big on fashion, your writing style has me hooked.
ReplyDeleteHey there, I'm so gladened by your kind words, thanks for stopping by and keep stopping by! ❤ E
DeleteEager to hear your thoughts!