Don’t let your eyes fool you….
That’s the front of my shirt. The back reads….
A lot of people look at the front and think it says “Walt Disney.” Then they see the back and realize that their eyes played a trick on them.
Given that Task #7 in the battle of the UNswas Drink a Shot of Whiskey, the shirt fit the occasion. The setting for this task was a motorcycle rally held in my home town.
I love riding on the back of a motorcycle and dig the whole vibe of 200,000 people with wind-blown hair and tattoos walking around the streets of town.
When I was growing up my dad rode a motorcycle and took me and my sister for rides. We both got really comfortable riding and can easily side into the ‘biker chick’ role for a weekend, leaving our regular life behind in the dust for a few days.
Did you know that your first impression of someone is largely shaped by the environment you meet them in? For example, if you met me at work, you might think of me as an educated conservative. If you met me at a bike rally ordering a shot of whisky at a crowded bar, you would think something completely different. Just like the Malt Whiskey shirt, your eyes might fool you.
Me: I’ll have a shot, please.
Bartender: A shot of what?
Me: Oh, a shot of whisky.
Irritated Bartender: What kind?
Me: Oh, I don’t know, whatever.
…and that, my friends, was the beginning of a fun-filled weekend and successful completion of Task #7. Thanks Mike, for suggesting that one.
When you’re in different environments, it’s important to know your own BACKBONE and be consistently you, no matter where you are and what’s happening around you. The person you are in church is the same person you are at work…at a motorcycle rally…or in Las Vegas for the weekend.
Different Sides. Same Person. One Backbone.
Have you ever pinned someone wrong because of the environment you met them in? Have you ever been misjudged yourself?
The Chameleon's Backbone 
Posted by pattisj on June 28, 2011 at 1:17 am
Very wise words in closing, Tracy, about knowing your own BACKBONE.
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 3:35 pm
I think many of your posts are VERY WISE, so I’ll take that as a big compliment coming from you, Patti!
Posted by Yadayadafishpaste on June 28, 2011 at 5:41 am
You’re right! It SO looks like Walt Disney 😀 You’re right: you should be the same person no matter where you are. It is, however, quite tricky not to judge a book by its cover. Wise thing to remember (and be reminded of often) 😉
I find I’m fairly intuitive about judging character, but for me it is not so much only where I meet them. Even so, I think it is only fair to keep your idea one side and allow them a chance to prove whether you were right or wrong in your idea. Sometimes it is a bit of a game I play with myself: how many can I get right 🙂
Myself, I really try to be consistent no matter where I am, or who I’m with. I used to be a people pleaser; afraid to be who I am (but also at first I didn’t know who that was – took me a while to find that out for myself) – so I often compromised myself. Now that I am more sure I’m less concerned with what others think and more with being true to myself – grown some backbone and loving it 😉
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 3:48 pm
All the happy faces in your comment made me SMILE :-). I’m so glad that you discovered it’s okay to be who YOU are, and show it to the world. Keep smiling, girl.
Posted by Yadayadafishpaste on June 28, 2011 at 5:47 am
I agree! The vibe of such a huge crowd all sharing one passion is exciting! It is one of the things I love best about cycling races. I love most everything with wheels. A good friend of mine rides a Harley. She’s also a breath of fresh air. I would love to own a bike one day. I like cruising along, enjoying the ride and the scenery though. I’m not really one for speed bikes (plus, I’m so tall that I basically fold in three. How much fun is to be had if you can’t feel your toes anymore – no blood circulation, right?) 😀
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 3:55 pm
I’d love to own a bike too, but then after realizing that I would probably wreck on the first time out, I decided it would be best to just stay on two feet. I’m tall too – never rode on a speed bike, but I imagine it would be very uncomfortable.
Posted by Ron on June 28, 2011 at 10:47 am
First, I LOVE the shirt! It’s FLAWLESS!
Second, I too….”dig the whole vibe of 200,000 people with wind-blown hair and tattoos walking around the streets of town.”
In fact, I use to work with a girl who she and her husband built their own motorcyles (Harley’s) and would sometimes invite me to their biker weekend events. Talk about FUN!
Third, yes, I have pinned someone wrong because of their environment. I once met a VERY conservative and reserved court
judge who on the weekends, turned into a wild biker-chic. It totally blew me away!
And I to have been pinned wrong. LOTS of times!
Great ending line, Tracy!
“First, I LOVE the shirt! It’s FLAWLESS!
Second, I too….”dig the whole vibe of 200,000 people with wind-blown hair and tattoos walking around the streets of town.”
In fact, I use to work with a girl who she and her husband built their own motorcyles (Harley’s) and would sometimes invite me to their biker weekend events. Talk about FUN!
Third, yes, I have pinned someone wrong because of their environment. I once met a VERY conservative and reserved court
judge who on the weekends, turned into a wild biker-chic. It totally blew me away!
And I too have been pinned wrong. LOTS of times!
Great ending line, Tracy!
“Different Sides. Same Person. One Backbone.”
X
Posted by Ron on June 28, 2011 at 10:51 am
P.S. sorry about the double comment, but something is up with this new commenting format.
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Okay Ron, I envision a photoshoped picture of yourself as a biker babe on Vent…coming soon!?!?! And everything you said deserved to be said twice.
Posted by blueviolet on June 28, 2011 at 10:55 am
I’d be surprised if there was anyone who hasn’t made that mistake at some point. Based on the fact that I did indeed think that shirt said Walt Disney at first glance, I’m guessing I’ve done it somewhere along the way. I suppose it’s human nature, but I hate that we might possibly do that!
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 4:11 pm
….and why Walt Disney drank whiskey…we might never know! Perceptions can be seriously confusing.
Posted by Sidney on June 28, 2011 at 11:14 am
I was always jarred when I saw my teacher at the supermarket.
This post is wonderful, Tracy.
It’s all an illusion.
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I always forget people’s names when I see them out of context. Teachers shop for food?
Posted by SuziCate on June 28, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Hey you awesome biker chick! Glad you had a blast…sounds like a great time…always good to let your hair down sometimes…regardless of the outward roles others perceive us as…we are always the same inside! Great post!
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Hey you awesome blogger and nature lover and the 10,000 other sides of you! “…we are always the same inside” – true, and the key is to know who that person is on the inside – so many people don’t know their complete self. I didn’t for a long time, until my late 30s. Do you know you?
Posted by Beverly Diehl on June 28, 2011 at 5:42 pm
If anyone’s read Heinlein’s Stranger in a Strange Land, there’s the concept of a Fair Witness. When they ask Anne what color a house on a nearby hill is, she looks, and replies, “It’s painted white on this side.” She doesn’t ASSUME the other sides are white, too, nor that it won’t be repainted when she’s not looking at it.
I know I tend to fill in the blank when I meet people in a certain environment, and am trying to change that to “white on this side,” not making assumptions about other parts of their lives. Good post!
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 4:14 pm
“white on this side” – what a great quote and one that I don’t think I’ll forget. Thanks for much for sharing it!!
Posted by Tammy on June 29, 2011 at 12:32 am
I’m certain that I’ve misjudged at some point in time and that I’ve been misjudged too. As a rule, I really try to withhold judgement and base it on my personal experiences.
Posted by Tracy on June 29, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Hi Tammy! Wouldn’t it be totally eye opening if we knew how others judged us…based on their own standards?
Posted by Kalli on June 29, 2011 at 6:54 pm
i love this whole post! you look like a rockin biker chick for sure…..and you are right about where we meet people-so true!
Posted by Bonnie on July 6, 2011 at 10:49 am
What an awesome post, Tracy! Misjudging others happens so often, and I admit I’ve been guilty of doing it as well. Even though I believe it’s a trait of human nature, it doesn’t make it right. The completion of task #7 sure sounded like it made for a fun day! 🙂