Aging with Grace

A personal style is like handwriting – it happens as the byproduct of our way of seeing things, enriched by the experiences of everything around us.

Massimo Vignelli

We all have our own personal style, whether we like it or not. It’s who we are and amazingly, we are one of a kind. We can try to imitate someone else, but at the end of the day we’re still an original. Imagine how boring it would be if we were all paper cutouts of one another.

Where this, originality becomes a problem, is when we are asked to do something for the greater good. Take face masks, as an example. Many of us put on a generic white mask and are done. Others use masks as a form of artistic expression or a fashion statement. It’s when we decide to express our selfs by refusing to wear a mask that things get a little dicey. Whether it’s just going against the tide or making a political statement, the problem is, it effects the well being of others around us. 

I, recently, read something about all the different ways we have been asked to conform to certain standards. Remember, “No shirt, no shoes, no service”, posted on restaurant doors? There are many other examples where we are asked to follow these kinds of requests. Think about churches, golf courses, fine dining, schools? I don’t remember any instances of anyone becoming violent when asked to follow these requests. In this case, it could make the difference in someone staying healthy or becoming seriously ill. It’s not forever. It would be great if we didn’t make it harder that it needs to be.