First Period

When I was younger ( and even now to a lesser extent) I used to wonder constantly what my peers were thinking. What did they think about my shoes? My shirt? My laugh? I would have a moment that I found to be embarrassing and weave a tale in my head whereby this person saw me as a complete idiot. All of this course were mere assumptions with absolutely no basis. I thought that everyone could see my flaws and not only did they know them, but they also talked about it behind my back ( oh the horror!). However, after graduating when my friends and I shared stories regarding certain rough patches or bad times ( heavy understatement) we all expressed shock at certain events. Many a " Woah dude, I never knew", or " wow that's crazy, I never noticed" were repeated during our conversations. To my surprise the issues which I thought everyone noticed about me were never even registered. I know this is a realization that everyone has sooner or later, however, mine only came during the beginning of my college career. I have a story that I think may do well in illustrating my idea. In middle school I remember waking up and having just a horrible morning, I woke up wayyyy too late the type of late which could've led me to detention. So I just fast-forwarded my usually 30 minute morning routine into a, less than 10 and more than 5 minute, chaotic rush. I proceeded to run out of the house and at first, I walked until I saw the time and ran, rushing at speeds which in my mind surely would've put pressure against Usain Bolt. But I got to school, roughly 3 minutes before the bell rang giving me quick time to tame my disheveled appearance and walk into class. And there I was in the class, with everyone else, I was on time as all of them and dressed the same way, writing the same notes. No one would've known the absolute mad man I was a mere half-hour before. The point of my story is to explain that we all live " crazy middle school morning" lives, having experiences that no one could've ever known or picked up on. Accepting this mindset not only helps one in terms of being less anxious about what others may think of them ( they aren't thinking of you ) but also to greatly understand other people better because under the surface there is almost always a raging sea barely being kept at bay.