What Bagel Are You?

My musical theater teacher in high school once said "it's important to know what kind of bagel you are. You have to play to your strengths."



Of course, he was talking about acting roles -- not trying to be the leading lady if you're the best friend, or the angel if you're the vixen -- but lately I've been thinking about the bagel philosophy. And if it goes beyond roles. How many of us know what kind of bagel we are? How many really care?

I'm sure we'd all like to say we can be anything we want. We can be the vixen, the sweetheart, the sidekick, the star... right? I'm not saying people aren't complicated and multi-faceted, but I think sometimes we spend too much time crafting who we want to be at any given moment, and not enough time just being whoever it is we were made to be. If you're the girl-next-door, well, own it. If you're a total geek, own it. Whatever it is, just own it. Stop trying so hard.

I hate to simplify things because I strongly believe this world is many shades of grey, but what if we all stopped worrying so much about appearances and perceptions and stigmas? What if we could just recognize what we are -- whatever that may be -- and work with it? What if I could stop spouting cliches? That would be pretty cool, huh?

So, cheesy question -- what kind of bagel are you?