Be Proud of Who You Are!

Do this...don't do that. Eat this...don't eat that. Wear this...don't wear that. It seems like as a society, we just love being told what NOT to do. Everyday there is an article or a television show that is screaming at us that we are living our lives completely wrong. Obviously, we should all be wearing the latest designer clothing, eating the latest trendy foods, and working out 300 hours a day so that we can all be underwear models. Unfortunately, nobody can live up to these expectations. How does that make you feel?

The world is made up of all kinds of people. We have tall people and short people. There are fat people and skinny people. There are people who dress up every day and people who think that t-shirts are the highest fashion. And really, that is what makes this world such a great and interesting place.

Growing up in Eastern Kentucky, I've been entrenched in Appalachian culture my entire life. The sad truth is that I didn't really appreciate it. I tried to be like the people that I saw on television because that is what I considered to be "normal." I tried to mold my actions and even my speech patterns after them. I considered their ways of life to be something for which I should strive.

Television and the internet has brought a wealth of information into Appalachian society. That is a good thing. I'm not knocking it in any way. I'm a firm believer that more information is better and that we should all work toward becoming more and more knowledgeable about our world. What is sad is that our true Appalachian culture is disappearing.

In a world of iPods, iPads, wireless this, and hotspot that...we are becoming a global society. We share information and ideas with the world. The mountains used to shelter us and also kept us isolated. It had good points and bad. Mainly, the bad was that we were usually about 20 years behind everyone else in just about everything...lol! And old joke, but there was some truth in it, I'm afraid. What was good is that it kept our culture and ideals alive and well.

Now, there isn't that much strength in a local identity anymore. Just as I strived to become more like what I saw on television, others are working toward an identity that is more globally acceptable. We have gained a lot with technology...but it wasn't for free. We have given up a lot as well. When this is gone, unfortunately, it is gone for good.

Since our world is ever-changing and the impact of technology is growing each day, we here in Appalachia may feel that all is doomed. In some ways, this may be true. Nobody can travel back in time...at least not yet. Nobody can bring the past into the present. However, we don't have to feel that everything has to be lost. We can still flavor our lives with the spice of our ancestors. We can keep our cultural palettes alive by knowing that there is nothing wrong with just being ourselves.

Don't be ashamed to be yourself. Don't be ashamed to keep your family traditions alive. Don't be ashamed if your idea of a perfect life doesn't match what you are being feed by the mass media. Nobody knows you better than you do. Nobody can tell you how you are supposed to live.

It seems like the media loves to portray the image of the dumb, lazy hillbilly. When we think of Appalachia, what images come to mind? If we only getting our information from mass media, we may think of barefoot hillbillies who live in shanty houses with junk and trash all around. We may think of high poverty and ignorance. All of these are very negative images that get the high ratings that television stations love.

However, if we take another look at Appalachia, we may see things in another light. We can see people who are honest, friendly, hard-working, and independent. We see a love for family. We see a love for community. All of these are very positive images. Unfortunately, we don't see these images much in the modern media because they don't get those high ratings.

So I guess that what I'm trying to say is never be ashamed of where you come from or how you live. Every person is a valuable member of this world. We each have something to contribute. Nobody should ever feel that they are less important than anyone else on this planet. And as a culture, we should be proud of our Appalachian heritage. It may be shrinking as we become more of a global society, but we can bring the positive influences along with us. That can our gift to the world.

Take a moment today to be proud of who you are. Be proud of what you have accomplished in this life. And take a moment to consider just how much more you have to offer. You are important. You matter. Smile with that knowledge. And if you want to run barefoot through the grass on a warm spring day...well, then do it. After all, it IS one of life's little pleasures!

Until next week....class dismissed.