Although in life many things can be found annoying, there are some things that just cannot be tolerated. It seems in my life there are many of these things. But one thing in particular stands out in my mind as the most intolerable thing on the earth. This pet peeve is not a common one and has particularly to do with my unique identity.
To explain what I mean, I will give an example. Imagine you are walking around the halls when suddenly you find yourself being introduced to someone new. This is not unusual. But in my case it is. I am normally walking around with my identical twin sister. This in particular comes to the point of my pet peeve. Because I am with my twin, the first few questions asked are pretty normal. “Are you guys related?” Response: “Yah, we’re twins!” This is where the issue begins. “How can I tell you guys apart?” In response to this question, my twin and I have come up with an answer to appease their fears of not being able to tell us apart. The person normally accepts this response. But some do not. They want to know more. People begin prying for more differences. They find the most random things to tell us apart. The only problem is, is this prying begins to feel like I am in a contest being judged and examined to find my flaws. They say things such as, “Your face is longer,” or, “Your eyes are bigger.” Nobody likes to be told their face is big or their chin is pointy.
It’s these types of things that get to my very bones. Just because I am a twin does not give people the right to judge and examine me like I am some pie in the State Fair being tested for good taste. I understand that it is very natural for people to try and find these differences, but they could be discrete about it and keep it to themselves instead of flaunting what they have found to the world. I am not trying to say that people are not allowed to find those differences, I am only pleading that people keep them to themselves. It can be their own little secret and joy to know that they can tell us apart. I know that I also must change my views. Because I know that this will happen for the rest of my life, I know I must accept it and learn to live with it.
On top of all this, I am sure that people will understand my plight. I am not a pie in the State Fair, I am a person, one who has individual traits and characteristics that I am sure people will notice. But I do not want these to become the focus on me. I want people to like me for who I am, not for what I look like. So I conclude with the hope that people will take what I have to say seriously, and know that I too can change by realizing that this is will happen for the rest of my life and I must learn to live with it.
I've never thought about it that way before. I have to admit, I do this all the time since I am absolutely terrible at telling twins from each other. Which is strange, since there are multiple sets of twins in my extended family, my dad and uncle included. I will definitely consider this in my future encounters with twins.
ReplyDeleteLuckily my twin brother Ben and I are fraternal and this issue rarely arises. However, people on occasion get us mixed up which makes no sense at all. We look like brothers I have been told but that does not justify people getting our names mixed up. Polar opposites is a good word to describe my brother and I. I guess that is one downfall of being a twin but otherwise it is a lot of fun too. You always have someone to talk/relate to. =)
ReplyDeleteWow, I am guilty of doing this. Sorry! But I definitely see your point Amy. I would have great sympathy for any girl that felt that she was being judged by their flaws in order for someone to tell you apart. I liked your pie analogy, it fit the situation very well due to the circumstances that you were going through. But then again it is kind of embarrassing to say hi to your twin rather than you, so stay together!
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