Green Hair and Eggs

I have been marveling at this idea that I spent a large portion of my life allowing other people to define who I was.  And, to be honest with you, reveling in the knowledge that I don't do that anymore.  From People Pleaser to Authentic Seaweed.  The hilariously irritating fact is that my relationships with people have never been better - people want authenticity.  There's nothing more irritating than talking to someone who is clearly putting up a front so that you will like them.  People sense bullshit.  I want you to relate to me just the same way you'd relate to the staff at a coffee shop.  

The other hilariously irritating fact is that not only did I let your approval of who I am define how I acted around you but that I'd go totally in the opposite direction and allow your disapproval of who I am do the same thing.  If I want to die my hair green but don't do it because I think you'd disapprove this is an example of me being disingenuous.  But if I die my hair green just because I think it would annoy you that's just a different way of being inauthentic.  In both cases I'm allowing you to define who I am.  Now, since I'm no longer a total idiot I understand that sometimes I have to conform to standards I may not agree with.  If I had dyed my hair green when I was working . . . well  . . . this wouldn't have helped me advance in my career.  Manufacturing engineers aren't going to buy anything from a middle-aged dude with green hair.