Be Yourself

I remember talking to one of my friends in Athens and telling them about how I was different at home than I was at UGA. They told me that I needed to be myself. I thought that is easy for them to say! However, now that I think about it, it probably isn't. When I wrote the post about Home I found that so many people were looking to find a safe place to be themselves. 
What I was referring to in this particular situation was my accent. My accent is unmistakably Southern. Some might find it charming but a large part of the time, people find it laughable. I cannot count the times where I am asked to repeat or pronounce various words such that it can provide entertainment. I can agree that it could be amusing to hear words pronounced in a way that you are not accustomed to but it gets awfully old upon repetition. Also, I sometimes get the feeling that judgments are made upon my intelligence or character because of my speech patterns. This unsettles me. So, in order to avoid these situations, I have altered my speech such that it is less noticeable. I try very hard to articulate and enunciate. It is a conscious effort at times.  
I do not say all of this to make you feel sorry for me. This is not one of those "Mommy, they are picking on meeee!" situations. It is just something that has been a part of my life that makes me realize some of the bigger picture. 
In order for us to reach that feeling of home where we are free to express who we really are, there needs to be a level of comfort and trust among each other. That means we should accept others and not make them feel bad for who they are. This of course does not mean that people should not change sinful behavior. It just means we should love each other in such a way so as to foster this trust that leads to home.