Being Noticed |
The
Need to be Recognized Regardless
of gender, of name, of accomplishments, most of humanity needs to be noticed, to
be recognized, to be remembered. Some
folk have a greater urge than others, but nevertheless the need is there.
We see it in young children who scream, smile, repeat words and much more
to be known and can be seen and noticed. This
need is seen at any age. As adults
some folks have a special talent, a special walk, are good “runners” or have
some other habit that is their own and differentiates him from the everyday
human being, if indeed there is such a thing. Why
do people strive to show their strength, or are noticed for a particular habit
or peculiarity that is special than the average individual. The
need to be special, to be different comes in all ages, colors, ideas and and, or
ambitions Why
do some folk dye their hair in a very bright or unique color?
To be seen, to be noticed, to be different.
There are those who have a colorful pin with a band drawn through their
lips. It gives them attention and
recognition. They do not want to be
the common everyday person in society. They
want to stand out, to be noticed and recognized.
This
is also true of people who want to have a political office.
The most exciting for many would be to be president. How thrilling it
feels to succeed in possibly obtaining that very important office.
People fight for this often, regardless of the cost and effort that is
hidden in that overwhelming ambition, and what
effort, sweat and tears are needed to
achieve that position. There
are those individuals who cannot achieve the remotest challenge to this and
other important positions so they turn to being “Bayazzo,” a clown who is
noticed for his ridiculousness, his colorful appearance, and his unusual acts.
Regardless of being ridiculed, he feels seen and important and different
from the everyday Joe or Jane. His
looks and his acts make him special. For
some individuals, due to the need to be special, to be noticed, to be unique,
they will murder their fellow men.
They think very little of the consequences of their desire to be noticed
and remembered, and will go to any length to do their “special deed” or
“thing. Actors
are folk who take on the characteristics, the habits of another whom they
portray. The most skilled of these
are the folk that look and act “real,” as the person that they are
portraying. An
outstanding example was Adolf Hitler. He
did not have outstanding skills, was not particularly handsome or tall, felt
unwanted and unnoticed, and given his pity for himself, his narcissism, became a
sadistic individual who was noticed by the world.
The more people whom he could capture and annihilate, the happier and
more attention he received. He
achieved in the deeds that which he craved regardless of anyone else in his
path. Only his own narcissistic
feelings mattered. As
human beings, we must remember that what we see in others is not necessarily who
they are, or what their true belief and their reason is for their particular
behavior. We must carefully decide
if that which we see superficially is the real person.
This is especially true in the coming elections.
We must study what a particular person has accomplished and exhibited in
the past. Did he really carry out what he is presently claiming? Will he
do what he is promising? Let
us study the history of the person that we hope to choose as our political
leaders. As Jews, we must be
especially careful whom we choose, and who will resist bigotry! Lehitraot. Dr. Ursula A. Falk is a psychotherapist in private practice and the author of several books and articles. |