Fitting in

I think it is a human condition to want to fit in…to not be the odd one out.

My experience with society at large is that society does not tolerate anyone who does not fit in. The problem is that there is not just one overall society. There is the American society which reflects the “American” idea of what makes one an American. There is a society for every religious group which reflects that group’s idea of who is a member. There is a college society that reflects ongoing what a college student and adult should do or act.

The problem, as I see it, for each individual is determining which, if any, of the many societies that one belongs to is the overarching one that determines their behavior.

And, I think, the human struggle is to not fit in but to incorporate within oneself the best of all the groups to which one subscribes.

The decision then is which groups have beneficial influence within one’s self. And, it may not be what another person would choose. Rather, it should be what resonates for each of us within.

My problem is that I am not sure how to fill my need for community. Where do I fit? Want are my core beliefs from which I choose to act? Are there others who share some of my values?

I am made up of a wide conglomeration of different societies.