So Prowl and I get in line at Starbucks to get a latte. We do this a lot. In fact, this particular Prowl has lived in my purse since I bought him in April. Even if I take him out of my purse (so other robots can have a turn riding around town), he sneaks back in. I think he just wants to capitalize on all coffee opportunities, but I donāt really mind, because I think itās important in life to have a Pocket Prowl.
So the point of this little story is that people will sometimes ask what Iām doing when I take pictures of my robots in public. I donāt mind, and Iāll happily tell people that I am taking pictures of my robotsā adventures around town, and posting them online. They give me a blank look, like I just spoke Klingon. They ask why I would do this. I say itās because Iām having fun. At this point, theyāre usually looking at me as though Iām some frightening breed of bug, but I donāt really mind that either. I can tell that they just donāt have a mental place to file what Iām doing. They donāt understand āfunā that doesnāt fit into their category of āfun.ā Iām not bowling, drinking beer, or attending a concert. Iām not at a movie, or shopping (unless one counts the coffee), so they have no idea what I mean when I say Iām having āfun.ā Itās like Iām speaking a foreign language.Ā
But then they do the one thing that irritates me completely. They say, āItās ok. Donāt worry about it.ā Or, āItās ok, I donāt mind.ā As if IĀ had just apologized. Wrong.
And I will say, āI wasnāt apologizing to you. I was just explaining to you what Iām doing.ā
Then their eyes get big. āOH. Oh.ā And they blink, and sort of look helplessly around, as though I really ought to be apologizing, especially now that Iāve been gauche enough not to. āWell. I was just wondering after all,ā they will say. āWhat you were doing. I mean.ā
You mean what? I mean, really. What do you mean? That Iām not an exact replica of you, doing exactly what you would do at every moment of my life?
Iām just at a total loss for why people think itās their business what Iām doing. I donāt mind them asking, not at all. Thatās totally cool. But when they get to the point where they assume that I should, or even am apologizing to them for doing something that they donāt understand, I really have no patience for that. It is ok to photograph robots in public. It is ok to do something thatās just not normal. Obviously, if I were being obnoxious or disruptive in some way, I would understand people being annoyed with me. But I really donāt have any room for being treated as though I somehow owe an apology for doing what others simply may not understand.
Itās ok to not be doing what everyone else is doing. Itās ok to just have fun. Itās ok to be yourself. And we shouldnāt have to apologize for doing exactly that. I know that the majority of people will never come to this realization, and thatās sad, because we end up wasting a life trying to be exactly like everyone else ā who by the way, is trying desperately to be exactly like everyone else. So who is it weāre supposed to be like if everyone is trying to be who theyāre not?
I will continue to unapologetically be myself. And to anyone out there on my Tumblr feed who catches flak for doing what you love, keep doing it, because there are others of us doing what we love, too. Someone once said to me that weāre born as original works of art, and by the end of our lives, most people are carbon copies of every other carbon copy. I donāt want to lose my originality, and neither should you. Do what you love, and donāt apologize for doing it. Donāt forget how to be a kid. And if you have a robot in your pocket or purse or wherever you like to keep him, take him for coffee once in a while. Trust me, heāll love you for it.Ā
I do this all the time. Maybe itās because Iām a guy that people so often dismiss my nerdiness, or I donāt usually feel the need to justify my behavior. I will admit that when I started collecting MH I was embarrassedā¦ I would drag friends with me or- in an extreme bout of self-awareness, I bought a birthday card and gift bag. Blah.
@the_starhorse, youāre awesome. And not just because you like transforming robots.
