Comments on: Are You Stinky?

By: Trish

Trish — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 21:50:18 +0000

Brooke, you are pretty awesome. I work in an E.R., and see the worst of this world. Promoting kindness and understanding is so much better than becoming jaded and effected by peoples misunderstanding. I love your compassion.

By: Kristy

Kristy — Fri, 28 Nov 2014 18:54:47 +0000

Brooke!
From the moment I saw you on Creative Live I said to myself…….. she is a person who I would really love to meet and get to know. I love the fact that you are truly who you are!

Thanks for the great blog! I love reading it. Never change who you are. I am hoping that our paths will get to connect someday.

By: Judy reinford

Judy reinford — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 19:32:55 +0000

As artists we dress for the day, the way we create ourselves. Non artist people don’t get that at all. I dressed very much a mix of Molly Ringwald “Pretty In Pink” and the blond girl from “Some Kind Of Wonderful” with a hint of Madonna in college. This was 1984 to 1989. I had my hair asymmetrical and shaved on one side. people would make me feel horrible walking to the art building at my university, but once I was in those safe walls, the walls protecting the artists, I felt at home with my crazy clothes, most of which came from Goodwill. I heard a nun say to another nun on the bus one day, “she must have cancer” I told my mom and we laughed about how because my head was partly shaved they assumed I was dying.

By: Chantal

Chantal — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 11:26:50 +0000

you not stinky I’m sure! Just eccentric! Unique and as you say not a stereo type! My whole family are an eccentric bunch we all a artistic creative people! And u wouldn’t change it for the world! My grandfather has been my biggest inspiration he was a walking ball of knowledge! He taught me so many thing from the cosmos to the occult religion or even some fanagalo! A language made up by miners in Africa! So brace eccentricity and if it looks like we stink so be it haha

By: Pink Light Images

Pink Light Images — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:56:04 +0000

if you ACTUALLY smelled i would have probably had the same reaction…..cause there is nothing like trying to breathe in things that tear up the nostrils….for however many hours u are on a plane. lol But judging someone only by looks? MEH! oh well. 🙂 i’ve hardly ever asked to be switched in any scenario on a plane…regardless! 🙂 But this is a great funny story – and of course, always great chances to make memories, learn lessons and see the world for how it is and could be. 🙂 woot!

By: Samantha

Samantha — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:37:19 +0000

This was definitely a great and funny read. People are so rude sometimes. I’ve definitely been misjudged before and I actually talked to some people about this recently. I dated someone a while back who I cared a lot for but was constantly judged by his family and called trash because I didn’t live in a huge house with nice things. I in no way live like trash and have always taken great care of the things I own. Anyways, it hurt pretty bad and I wish I was older when I was told these things because I could of laughed about it now, but then I was young and really sensitive. I’m glad you could laugh about it! He on the other hand missed out on an amazing person just by being judgemental.

By: moira

moira — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:15:19 +0000

Granted the man was clearly an ignorant ass but perhaps it would have been kinder for your sister and friend to not have repeated his idiotic comment to you or even better still to have taken him to task about it and said “hey Mr fellow traveller, that’s my beloved friend/sister you are talking about and I don’t appreciate your comment.”

By: Mary-Claire

Mary-Claire — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:07:21 +0000

I, for one, am guilty. With unkempt beards, I always have to remind myself that perhaps they’ve not been living stinkily under a bridge but have access to a shower and they LIKE their face that way. While I would never, ever in a million years SAY something, I have to constantly work to remember to look at people’s hearts, not their bodies, shaving habits and clothing choice. When I was in college, I used to dress like a “bag lady” (according to Mom), and I have to wonder what people thought of me then! 😀

By: Mary-Claire

Mary-Claire — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 15:00:46 +0000

In reply to Stefan Ladang. I have been pleasantly surprised in the last few months that people hold open the door of the local convenience store for me. Sometimes they're in their pajamas. Some of them look like hoodlums ready to grab my wallet and run. And of course I say "Thank you!" and smile. It always helps keep things in perspective!

By: chel

chel — Mon, 24 Nov 2014 04:34:30 +0000

This TOTALLY resonates with me because I have a limp (I was born with Spina Bifida and walk with a cane, which is REALLY amazing for someone with my particular disease, plus I’m a kick-butt swimmer…) and I can tell that people sometimes make the assumption that because I walk a little funny, I must be “challenged” in other ways, as well. Or drunk. Or both.

Then, when I open my mouth and speak, they act like I’m a genius. Their relief and happiness at the normal words coming out of my mouth is palpable. I suppose it makes them feels much better that I’m not going to lurch on them or whatever.

I have had *so* many people compliment me on how articulate and intelligent I am throughout my life. I’m no braniac, I’m just NOT what people expect or assume, and therefore my “normal” behavior becomes exceptional.

It really really REALLY hurt me for years, but then the past few years (I just turned 40 in May…) it’s switched from embarassment and self-consciousness to an awareness with compassion. But, still… hard. Very hard stuff.

One thing that’s good is that its made me conscious of my own habits of “reading” people. I will be the first to admit that I have a habit of immediately looking for the faults in other people- not to tear them down, but to reassure myself that my “faults” are just part of the normal variety of life. But it’s not really a great thing to be doing, you know? So when I see someone judging me, I try and remember they are likely “scanning for faults”, like I do, just to maintain some sense of okayness in this crazy world.

Hopefully someday we’ll all evolve to a level where we look at a person and see more of “them” and less of who we think they might be based on their appearance.