Over the past year or so, I replaced my clothes with the help of my family. I have been watching videos, podcasts, and so forth. These have helped me understand the concept of self-awareness and why it is important to me. As we have rolled in 2026, I have begun to understand why it is important. I have realized how it can irritate others when the principle or concept is not understood. I no longer want to be the one that is laughed at.

I have always been called out or made fun of for not dressing well. My clothing choices are often not the best for the eyes of others. It can be what makes the impression that others remember you by for a long time. Eventually, it becomes quite redundant. It is irritating when you are called out or reminded repeatedly about the way you carry yourself. Eventually, I was just tired of having people stare. I was tired of them commenting or giggling about the way that I looked. The things that I saw just weren’t the standard. And while these weren’t things to make me stand out, they were simply the unspoken rules of life. They are not clear and openly discussed unless there is some class or group teaching them.

As I was growing up, there wasn’t a big understanding of my form of autism. Presenting myself in a way that didn’t always fit in with others, I was bullied for it. I had to pay the price for my actions and behaviors. Many of those folks have made amends to their behaviors. We follow each other decades later online or I see them in the same town or area. It is something that I always remember. It just wasn’t something that was made aware to us or what was expected to be for us.

Being called out for something can be frustrating. It is often irritating due to the way it is delivered to you. Recognizing that there is an issue, like any other matter, requires addressing and acknowledging it. Once you know this, actively resolving it is crucial. Understanding what needs to change and working to fix the issues is important. Whether you do this with others’ help or on your own, honesty is necessary. Doing what is needed aids in achieving your goals. Knowing you will feel better when meeting expectations and doing what makes you feel great is also key.

Once you know what you need to do, it takes effort to make it happen. This makes you feel good about yourself. You won’t be called out, gossiped about, or made fun of for the way you carry yourself. Understand what to do when situations arise. It is acceptable to do things you once thought were not the norm. Knowing that it is normal will make it easier. It will get better and, eventually, it will no longer be an issue because you got it under control.