The Many Versions of Us
Isn’t it crazy that every single person in your life sees you a little differently? Like, you’re out here just existing, but to some people, you’re funny, to others, you’re quiet, and to someone else, you’re kind of intimidating (which is wild because you’ve never felt intimidating a day in your life). It’s weird to think about how many versions of you are floating around, shaped by tiny interactions and random moments, none of them fully right or fully wrong.
Everyone’s Watching a Different Movie
One friend sees me as the chill one at the party, bopping around and chatting with everyone. Another? They probably think of me as the person who would always be handing out shots and standing on elevated surfaces. It’s funny how the same moments can leave completely different impressions depending on who’s watching.
The way people see you has less to do with who you actually are and more with their own experiences. A coworker might think I’m quiet, while my friends would say I never shut up. A stranger could see me as cold because I didn’t smile when passing by, while my family knows me as the person who goes out of their way to make everyone comfortable.
You’re a Different Person to Everyone
Think of yourself as a collage—different colors, textures, and pieces depending on who’s looking. When I was younger (okay lowkey until like a month ago), I struggled with this. I wanted to be one person, a clear, defined version of myself. But I’ve come to accept that I’m not just one thing. I’m different to different people, and none of those versions are fully wrong—or fully right.
Even social media adds layers to this. It’s literally a place where I want to seem put together, to the point where I have a shared album with my long-distance best friend so she can curate my dumps for me. I ask my friends to help me post Instagram stories because I overthink them too much. The version of me online is probably more polished and intentional than real life, but at the same time, it's still me—just a version with a little extra editing.
The Whole ‘You’ve Changed’ Thing
We like to think we have a core identity, but the truth is, we change. I’m not the same person I was five years ago, and I won’t be the same five years from now. But people will hold onto their own versions of me, for better or worse.
I’ve had people tell me I’ve changed, sometimes as a compliment, sometimes as a criticism. But what they’re really saying is that I’ve changed in their version of me. Maybe I have. Or maybe I was always this way, and they’re only now noticing.
Letting People See What They See
Rather than worrying about controlling how I’m seen, I’m starting to accept that people will perceive me however they do. Some will misjudge, some will misunderstand, and some will see parts of me I never even recognized in myself. Instead of chasing a single, cohesive identity, I’m learning to be okay with being a work in progress, a collection of perspectives, a person who exists in a hundred different ways.
