Environmental Influences – How I Became Who I Am

Posted on 12. Nov, 2009 by SheBee in Culture

Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, Moon A few days ago I wrote a personal post on my blog about my personal growth. I’ve had such good feedback from it, via comments on the actual site and direct emails into my inbox. It got me thinking…

What makes us who we are as people? I mean, I know that our peers, role models & friends influence who become, but what makes us who we are?

I’d like to think it’s the environment. Yes, the trees, birds, colours, smells & sounds around us make us who we are. Before you write me off as a tree hugger already, hear me out.

For instance, whenever I smell the fragrance of lavender I think of my daughter. I used to bath her in Johnson & Johnson’s Lavendar Baby Range. Lavender reminds me of running my hands up and down my daughters tiny little arms after a warm bath, moisturizing her skin to avoid skullcap, powdering her small bum to ensure she didn’t pick up a nappy rash. Lavender makes me remember being a mom to a small human being no longer around.

When I taste PineNut (remember that? Our office PA found some in the centre of JHB CBD today) I remember learning how to smoke on Margate beach, being 14 years old, tanning on a towel… it’s where I learnt the important things: the philosophy of Life being about the journey and not the ride, being taught that I should be loyal to only those who deserve it.

At the sight of frayed denim shorts, I remember being 11 years old, pairing them up with trendy Doc Martin’s and singing on stage with a microphone way too loud for anyone’s hearing health. Denim shorts taught me confidence in myself, to not be afraid of being heard.

Listening to Alice DJ’s Better Off Alone makes me laugh at my own stupidity but also taught me all about sexuality & education. I was 14 and convinced I was pregnant after Jacques, a boy from the beach, had kissed me with tongue without asking. Not only did I throw up in his face, I cried for days because I thought I would fall pregnant. It was only when my mother sat me down and explained, again, carefully this time, that actual genitalia were required in order to be impregnated. But Alice DJ had been playing on someone’s beat box on the beach front at 6pm in the evening while we all sat around a bonfire and I’ll never forget that.

And with that, listen to the video, think about what I’ve said and come back into this dimension to tell me about your environmental influences.

Made of fibre and a little bit of morality…

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One Response to “Environmental Influences – How I Became Who I Am”

StevenMcD 17 November 2009 at 8:39 am #

I must agree with you there.

There are a lot of songs I hear that remind me of the bad old days at school. I put up with a lot of bullying in school and listened to metal to let go of my anger and rage.

A song that brings all those feelings back in an instant is Thoughtless by KoRn. Its a great song and when I hear it, I always think of those pricks at school. It also helps to show me how far I’ve come since then.

Our environment does a lot to cultivate who we are as people and help form our responses to everyday things.

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