Monday, September 3, 2012

I'm Not One of Them

I was never a cool kid in school. For one thing, I was one of like 4 black kids at every school I attended. Yes, people would ask to touch my hair and often looked to me as the voice of the Black population but that's another post for another time. :)

In high school I played tennis (this was before Serena & Venus so trust me when I say occasionally I got odd looks at tennis camp and tournaments), hung out at the library during lunch & after school, was the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper...shall I go on?? :) I was not cool. I was a nerd and I was totally ok with that.

I'm still not one of the cool kids and the evidence from Facebook, Twitter, and blogs proves it!

Here are some of the reasons why I'm not part of CKG (Cool Kids' Group):

1) I am not a runner. *I will run...if I have to but I do not do it for fun. It's not something I like or even love to do. I can tolerate it but would be perfectly fine to never run another step in my life.

2) I do not shop at Whole Foods or Trader Joe's. *I don't get what's so awesome about either one of these stores. I've tried to give them a chance but they're just not for me.

3) I am not a personal trainer. *I love to train but I have no aspirations to become a trainer, work in a gym, and train clients. Remember that whole hanging out in the library thing I talked about? That's exactly why (among other reasons) being a librarian is the perfect job for me.

4) I do not do Crossfit. *It scares me - bottom line.

In all seriousness, there are times when I find myself feeling like that awkward, shy, insecure Tenecia and I don't like it! One day when I was feeling this way, I found a picture (I can't remember where) and it's a great reminder to stop comparing myself to others and just be me!




21 comments:

  1. Are you kidding me? You're one of the coolest chicks I have ever known! Thanks for sharing your childhood stories. You're exactly the type of girl I would have hung out with :)

    xoxo

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    1. Aww! Thanks, Anna! We would totally hang out if you lived here or I lived there!

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  2. I think YOU are super cool! ;) I think we are all "nerds" in our own ways! I sure do love you though!

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  3. I think you are a pretty big deal! And I don't shop at Trader Joe's or Whole Foods either and CrossFit scares me too!

    I was in the "grunge" crowd in highschool. Combat boots, black/white striped tights with jean shorts over them and thrift store sweaters were my uniform. You know the look that took an hour to put together so I could look like I didn't care! ha!

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    1. I can't picture you as a "grunge" chick! Too funny!
      P.S. I think you're a pretty big deal too!

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  4. gotta chime in and say I think you're cool too - because you do your own thing & don't follow all the same trends as everyone else!! It's refreshing!

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  5. Ha! I hear ya. Never been in the cool crowd and if I've learned anything most people aren't even that cool who are in the cool crows!

    I run and call myself a runner but I don't think I necessarily fit into the running crowd. I don't take running too seriously and definitely do not have a runners body. Meh, it gets me out and moving.

    Whole Foods and Trader Joe's have their time and place. I will admit it's nice to live in a big city finally and have them as options but 9 times out of 10 you'll find me in a regular ol' store.

    Me a trainer? Yeah right. Although it's great to see people going after their dreams I see so many people acquiring their certs that I feel the market is going to become severely saturated.

    Ah, crossfit. I'm intrigued by it but it scares the bajeezus put of me for sure. Not to mention I think so many people aren't smart with it which means more injuries...it's good to push yourself to your limits and have discomfort during a workout, but not cool to hurt yourself during a workout.

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    1. "if I've learned anything most people aren't even that cool who are in the cool crows!" - I love this! I'm going to remind myself of this when I start wanting to be a cool kid!!

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  6. ...and this is why I follow you (ready stalk)! You are the person I would've been best friends with in high school!

    I am with you on the Trader Joe's/Whole Foods thing. And don't even get me started on Crossfit and what it did to several of my volleyball girls...

    Keep doing what you're doing. You are truly inspirational.

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    1. Aww, Melissa! Thanks!! I appreciate you following me & your words of encouragement!!

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  7. T!!! i think that you are as cool as the other side of the pillow!!!!you dont have to be a runner or a trainer or like trader joes and crossfit to be the awesomeness you are today!
    when i was in high school,i was one of 7 white kids on the track team of 100.i was in the minority and it was so not cool to be a distance runner then! i also ate lunch during my independent study-yes,i took extra classes in high school except my senior year...i was so not cool in HS,i was the ugly dork who couldn't afford cool clothes and was made fun of everyday...wow im so glad those days are behind me,lol!

    anyways, like ana said,i would hang out with you any day!!!keep on being your awesome self,i still love ya even though you hate to run!!

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    1. Melissa!! You know I would hang out with you any day of the week!! I want to be a runner so badly...don't give up on me yet...lol!

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  8. I completely relate. I am not a runner; will tolerte it in small doses only, I will and do train, but not for money, I can do crossfit and do enjoy it, but refuse to do a WOD everyday, nor do I shop at a Whole Foods-too expensive. Cute post! Have a good one!

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  9. I don't understand what's NOT cool about all of those things?! If you're not cool, then I'm DEFINITELY not cool cuz I'm on the same page as you. BTW - I started reading Michael Connelly books per your recommendation and I love them. ;)

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    1. You & I love to resist trends & "what's cool", don't we?? :)

      If you haven't read any of his books yet, you should check out Robert Crais! Great great great author!!

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  10. *raises hand*
    I was completely NOT the cool chick either, still not. I was the goth, Art School President, Beta Club, Drama Club, French language, Creative Composition, graduated with Honors, 9th in the class..... cast away. I feel ya. I am finding that I just like to do what I like to do.
    P.s..... I love natural African American hair. I seriously ENVY it. =p~ So, I would probably be completely obsessed with your hair if you lived nearer, lol.
    But, yep, still am a quintessential nerd who happens to like to lift weights. =D

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    1. You should know that I think you're so frickin' cool!

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  11. You're one of the Cool Kids to me :)

    Everything you listed sounds like you're cool to me ... especially the not liking to run part. I hate running, lol.

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