Nepal has in the fact that I begin to self reflect after a comment or something happens. I also feel much more comfortable being myself and speaking out as well as being a bit more sarcastic. I consider all of these good things because you should always be yourself. Sarcasm can be relative to people, but I consider it a good thing as I have many friends who are sarcastic and comments often went over my head. Now? Comments still go over my head, but not as often and I've actually had a couple good responses I feel like! :-D
My fun revelation today? A comment was made about "a guy thing". I got annoyed at that remark and the term "sexist" came to mind, but I knew that's not where the comment came from so I reflected on why I was annoyed. Nepal definitely has stereotypical roles for men and women, which certainly was an annoyance for me. I have also never appreciated being labeled with expectations and being put in a specific box because of perceptions of who I am/should be. It has been a struggle figuring out who God made me to be versus what society/others I allowed tell me who I was.
I love to play Pathfinder (Dungeons and Dragons) and other games stereotypically considered "nerdy" games, which some who are not interested in that would label that as my being a "nerd". I certainly don't mind that and agree to an extent, however those who are more knowledgable about it than I would not consider me a "nerd" at all. I enjoy watching others play just as much as I enjoy playing. I enjoy playing video games, but I'm very excellent at decreasing 99 lives to 5 in 30 minutes! :-D
I am comfortable being around only guys (as long as I'm not encroaching on a "guys time") just as much as I am comfortable being around only girls or a mix. I like what is stereotypically considered "guy things" just as much as I like what it stereotypically considered "girl things". I don't like some things considered "guy things" just as much as I don't like some things that are considered "girl things". For example, I'm not a fan of horror movies and I'm also not a fan of spending hours shopping. Both of those fall into stereotypes, but there are some girls who like horror movies and some guys that enjoy spending hours shopping.
I like that I am flexible and enjoy being where I am at in that moment. I like that I feel I am able to for lack of a better term, "fit in" with different groups regardless of what stereotypes they may be labeled. I like that I don't fit in a stereotype. I like that I am uniquely me and am comfortable being me sooner as well as expressing my thoughts. There are times and places for everything of course, which is part of the whole "working out and through things" process I am walking through at the moment!
Here's to God knowing what He is doing and how He created us! :)
Psalm 139:14 NLT - Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous - how well I know it!