Instead of worrying what other people think of you, recognize that it is a fear and not a truth of something that will happen, it is not something that has to happen, and if it does happen what is there to be afraid of? If someone judges you for the music you listen to, how tall your grass is, how much money you do or don't have, etc, how do you handle it? You can remember that each person sets the bar for what is and is not acceptable. By giving in to fear, you allow fear for everyone involved. In a society or maybe an age/time where fear is the norm, people admire when they see someone not giving in to fear.
A few days ago someone said they were glad the graffiti on a nearby building was painted over. I said "You say you're glad it's covered, I say it's a blank slate for the next graffiti artist." I respect that some people don't like graffiti, but I know that it is out of fear. The fear of appearing like a bad community. If graffiti is allowed then drugs will be sold on every corner and homes and cars are sure to be broken into. I don't see that as true at all. (But I am in the midwest where people aren't sure of themselves or their surroundings or maybe the people I meet are afraid of change and midwesterners are more like me as in unafraid of things that we may not be accustomed to.)
Nothing has to define your character in a negative way. If you don't know how to explain why you appreciate something, don't let that affect whether you like or dislike that thing. Because something doesn't make sense to another doesn't mean you are a bad person for seeing something good or somehow having an understanding of what someone else might not want to understand. Humans want a balance so while you might work from fear to be more like someone else so they are comfortable (which is selfish because you want them to like you hence doing something out of fear won't work in the end), they might be working from compassion or empathy to appreciate you and your ways.
Right now I am listening to Anoushka Shankar's new album, Traveler. Just her name might incite discomfort in some people for whatever reason(s). She is indian, but that doesn't matter to me. I am past a culture being the only one allowed to use or do what they brought to the world. Japan has anime, India has music with the sitar, America has the electric guitar*. Why can't rock 'n roll include the sitar? Why should an Egyptian not be able to create anime style graphics either in a cartoon or a comic strip? By keeping the line drawn we keep stereotypes viable. We want to understand things so why is it that when something is new and different that we guard ourselves for something? I don't even know what that is that so many people guard against, but I think it is personal either culturally or individually so maybe I can't know right now. I don't have to know either. For me, not knowing leaves dialogue open. I can engage in conversations and pick brains for feelings I don't yet know or understand.
*Before assuming the guitar or the electric guitar is an American idea and invention/innovation, read the Smithsonian's information on guitars and stringed instruments. Orville Gibson definitely helped the guitar along, but the guitar has hundreds of years of history including the sitar.
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