Successfully Stereotyped (A Walking Contradiction) | Daily Prompt: Standout

When was the last time you really stood out in a crowd? Are you comfortable in that position, or do you wish you could fade into the woodwork?

It happened just yesterday.

Since I was still reeling from being left out of the Linkin Park concert on Tuesday night, I decided to wear the Meteora shirt the following morning. It has been more than a year—maybe even more than two years—since I last wore it. Either I became leaner or the shirt was stretched a bit. Or nothing has changed.

Anyway, when I wore the Meteora shirt, I felt a bit strange.

For people who are familiar with me, I do not wear a lot of black. More so when I pair a black shirt with black jeans and black sneakers. Add to that the big Linkin Park name and initials.

People easily and readily dismiss me to categories that they believe I fit in because of how I act, speak, and write. That’s why seeing me with such clothes on and learning that I have such knowledge of a band surprised them. Well, I wouldn’t really blame them. I am a walking contradiction.

While I could explain myself, I don’t go out of my way to do so. I have been successfully stereotyped. And I could live with that. I just love proving to them that I am not what they think I am.