I cannot express to you, my Minions, how important it is that you remember those two words. It doesn’t matter if you’re 9 or 90. It can be a daily struggle to remember who you are and to continue to be that wonderful person, to be yourself. I grew up in a very small town, and though I was told to be myself, I was shown something else – that it wasn’t okay to dye my hair funky colors, that it wasn’t okay to dress this way or that, or talk like this or like certain things. I was taught that standing out was bad, that I’d better get in line with the other ants and keep my mouth shut.
Only one problem: I didn’t listen. And neither should any of you.
I’m blessed now to be surrounded by people who embrace my oddities, and so sometimes it can be jarring when I’m met with the same intolerance that I experienced growing up. It shocks me that people could find me so offending, especially when I work so hard to be a good childrens author, to produce books that are exciting, funny, quirky, and clean – cleaner than many books you’ll find on the shelf. I work enormously hard to be a good person, so it really bothers me when people can’t seem to get past what color my bangs are this week.
Why does it matter? Why does it matter if I look this way or that, if I talk this way or that? It’s not like I’m intentionally being disrespectful. I don’t swear in front of my Minions (though, when Auntie Heather drops something on her toe, oh, does she swear). I don’t tell them they should go get tattoos that afternoon or rob a bank or jump off a bridge. I encourage them to read. I tell them to go to college. I talk to them, and ask them questions, because I care.
I’m just being myself – something that I urge my Minions to be.
Some days are harder than others. But I will never change. Because it takes a lot of strength to stand up and show the world that yes, you’re weird, and proud of it.
I know I am.
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Hey Auntie,
I sent a letter to you about the minion bling and i still haven’t gotten it. Did you receive it?
Auntie Heather your WAY more understanding then any of my real aunts. I usually feel really misjudged by a lot of people around me. Just because of how I dress and because I would rather sit under my bed and read a book then go to a crowded party. I sometimes feel really alone in this big world, and it’s nice to know there are people out there who can understand my feelings. Thank you Auntie Heather.
hellu this si a random post. my friend told me to go on this sisght sice we read the books and im lke sure so i felt like postniing a comment. i call vlad vlad-y-kins cuz im weird like dat. Eighth grade bites should be a movie…>.<
one day, you should make a speech to the whole entire world about this. i never really thought that the way i dress is showing the world my weird pride. id love to show my mom this, but she would just scream at me. i know this might be a personal question, but, how did you find a way to set your life straight with everyone telling you to fit in with everyone else? with your parents? it seems impossible to deal with them and the rest of my problems. aunt heather, even though i really don't know you, you are my idol and i look up to you. not the kind of way that some people look up to Marilyn Manson because of his music. i look up to you because you're one of the few people that i KNOW have something to say. im sorry this is such a long comment…>_<
~Jackie x.x
Hi Jackie!
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It wasn’t easy, I tell ya, and honestly…everyone will ALWAYS tell you to sit down and stop acting like a crazy person the moment you start wearing all black and dyeing your hair funky colors. Auntie Heather still gets the looks, and yes, sometimes, the words…but she is far too set in her ways to change now.
What I did was sat down with myself and counted off the order of importance of people in my life – now, this was way back when Auntie Heather was a teenager (her priorities have since shifted, because Auntie Heather’s children come first and always will), so when I asked myself who I should first be looking out for, who I should be protecting, who I should really care about….as egotistical as it may sound, the answer was “me”. So, I started doing the things I needed to do to be good to myself, to make myself happy, to be alright with being “weird”. It started small, with black nail polish (horrible, cheap black nail polish called Wet n’ Wild that still holds a soft part in Auntie Heather’s evil black heart). I painted my nails and wore it through comments from my family (lots of which about whether or not they’d moved Halloween to June) and from my peers (those comments never ended, I’m afraid). The way I saw it, my parents were going to yell at me anyway, for a myriad of reasons (when they weren’t treeating me like The Invisible Girl, that is), and the kids at school hated me no matter what I did. So I pretty much resolved myself to wearing what I wanted and acting how I wanted, because in the end, all that really mattered was how I felt about the way I looked and the things I did.
Always, my Minions, always be true to yourself. Because in the end, YOU are all that matters. And if you’re happy with the way you’re doing things, (so long as anything you’re doing isn’t causing harm to your body, your mind or anybody else’s body or mind) that’s just alright.
I wish I was that strong to do what you did Auntie, but I just don’t think I can…
luv AVL
You just keep being you, AVL.
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ill try my best aunt heather! i never really had hope in myself, but thanks to you, i think I’m beginning to feel proud of myself.
Thank You.
~Jackie x.x