What If We Aren't All That Different

I read an article recently where Ryan Reynolds spoke about how he still suffers from "crippling anxiety" and deals with dark depression moments. I thought to myself, Whoa this guy deals with anxiety?!?!He looks like he's been molded by the hands of God. He seems to have a great personality, a quick wit, seems as if he enjoys life, and he is is married to Blake Lively! He's got more money than he could ever need, and he still deals with anxiety? This really got me to thinking.

Now there is a cynical side of me where I find it ironic that this interview surfaces a week before Deadpool 2 comes out. Perhaps the studio needs to bring attention because it's not that great of a movie. If you think that things like that don't happen, I have a bridge to sell you.

Then again, maybe it's true. Maybe he is insecure about things in his life. So I thought to myself, he's insecure, I'm also very insecure. Looks like Ryan Reynolds and I aren't that different. Maybe, we could be friends!

Something that I'm learning about, as I observe things in this life, is that I'd say a solid majority of us are insecure about something or another. We all deal with these insecurities in different ways. Me, I try to make light or joke about it. I hide behind my humor to avoid acknowledging the things about me that I don’t love. This is how I deal with it. People laugh at my dumb jokes, they think I'm funny, I feel better about myself, and we move forward. As time goes on and I learn more, yes I’m building more confidence, but the demons that hide behind my jokes still pop up from time to time. But I have an idea!

This idea has a snowball’s chance in hell of coming true, but you never know. What I would love is to be able to be more open about the things that I keep deep down in my gut, but if I’m ashamed, how can I do that? What if we wore our insecurities on our shirts. Think the scarlet letter, without being shamed. If we were able to see the stuff we harbor deep down inside ourselves, maybe others would be a little more sensitive and understanding to each other.

If you were walking down the street, or in the mall, or supermarket and you saw someone that was so good looking to you that your jaw just dropped. Would you approach them? Maybe you would. I probably, nope, definitely would not. What if that person had something on them that said, “I don’t like how I look,” or “I always feel ugly.” Right then and there you, the observer, could say to yourself, whoa, maybe that person isn’t out of my league. Then you could approach them and strike up a conversation. Now maybe it works out, maybe it doesn’t, but you wouldn’t ever live wondering what if.

If you were in the park and saw a person, maybe they are elder, maybe not, but their sign said, “I wish I had someone to talk to,” would you approach them? If you did, what would happen? Who knows maybe this person could become your new best friend, a professional contact, anything.

Like I said, I doubt this idea will ever come to pass. Maybe I will heed my own advice and embrace my insecurities, be more open about them. Or when I feel uncomfortable I will just continue to make jokes so I can feel better about myself.

It’s funny to think that sometimes things are so easy and simple but to some people, it can be a difficult task, like just striking up a conversation with a stranger. If we were able to know more about each other, maybe things could be easier and maybe, just maybe, Ryan Reynolds and I can become best friends!