Pretending To Be Something We Aren't

Pretending to someone we are not just to attract attention from someone we want to notice us. This is something almost everyone struggles with in some form or fashion at one point in their life. In the world wide novel The Great Gatsby, the main character by the name of Jay Gatsby is a prime example of this flaw. The first impression the reader receives of Gatsby is that he is quite wealthy, owns a literal mansion, hosts parties that are to die for, and is always the talk of the town. Later on we find out that he is in fact a very simple minded man at heart, who does not truly desire all of these worldly possessions, but rather he desires the love of his life Daisy, and knows he will never obtain her without these qualities or possessions. Daisy, we find out, can not handle the simplicity of the town which he lives in. I feel as though many people, Americans especially, put on this show of being rich, owning nice homes, or driving nice cars, when inside they are miserable and don't even long for these things. We simply want to be accepted or noticed. Celebrities are also another example of this quality. They come across as living the absolute dream life, that everyone wishes they could have. The truth is many of them probably wish they were normal, everyday people like the rest of us. They do it because they have a platform and expectations to live up to, because of us everyday people who watch them constantly, who are surrounded by their faces while waiting in the check on line at the grocery store. The sad thing is, is that it isn't necessarily a bad thing, until it covers up completely who you really are. When it comes to this point, this is when we begin to deceive not only others, but ourselves as well. This book challenged me to not try and impress people through my possessions and act like I'm someone I'm not. Although this is much easier said than done, it is something that should be applied to our lives and we should all try our bests to achieve it. If the person who we are trying to please truly loves us, they will accept us for who we are, and appreciate our realness and genuine hearts.