A few years ago, I would probably rather have died than wear an orange coat.
Why?
Because people would see me.
This is, obviously, both hyperbolic and absurd.
Still, I probably wouldn't have accepted a free, puffy orange coat from a friend moving to warmer climes if it had been proffered just a few years ago.
And of course, people can see me regardless of what I wear. So it's more than that.
In my orange coat, people can see me:
- being different
- being “loud”
- being a bit ridiculous
See this Instagram photo by @eyemadequiet * 19 likes
And also being pretty comfortable with all of that, because it's a great coat and I love it.
When I thought about the reasons I wouldn't have been comfortable in it a few years ago, I realized they were the same reasons I wasn't always comfortable writing and sharing my opinions online: because people would see me.
There are, to be sure, some good reasons to keep your opinions to yourself, but by and large, the repercussions of having opinions on the internet have been largely positive for me.
This may sound silly to those who have never been hesitant to speak up before, but if it resonates with you, I'd encourage you to find your own orange coat of internet opinions, embrace the opportunity to stand out from the crowd a bit, and get comfortable.