How do you find ways to fit in?

I recently took a new job and then a couple weeks later I decided it wasn’t for me. I felt I couldn’t do the job they wanted me to. I’m a well trained licensed Registered Dental Hygienist. The heck? It wasn’t personal at all. The job wasn’t for me anyways.

But…I felt bad. I was literally beating myself up for it. “Should I have given it more thoughts? More chances?”

In all honestly, I came to realization that I just simply wasn’t happy. If you’re not in a good place at an office, why bother? Get out as soon as you can. Period.

But then soon after I gave my notice, they were fighting for me to stay and were willing to work with me. I laid my cards out and got over my fears of not being the “right fit”. It eventually got better. I felt more in control and things flowed much easier. I was “fitting in” and was able to do the job I take pride in.

So let’s get to the topic.

How do you find ways to fit in?

I get a lot of questions from readers about fitting in. I often wonder why this is a question I get most.

Granted. I grew up in a hearing family and use oral speech. I also went to a school for the deaf briefly and used ASL.

It is uncomfortable trying to fit in. Feeling weird about meeting others is okay. Showing who you are, being yourself, flaunting your hearing aids/cochlear implant is okay. If you hide who you really are inside, is not okay.

Having a disability and fitting in with normal people IS hard. You are not alone. I try to let all things go when I meet people. I stay confident and smile with grace. I don’t take things too personal when they say something similar to “oh I didn’t know you were deaf” or something along those lines. It’s all apart of getting to know people right? If someone you don’t know says something personal to you and it’s something you don’t like to hear, tell them the truth. They will understand you as a person with a disability and confide in you to learn about your hearing loss. Teach them with grace. (Unless they are an asshole, then it’s a different story.)

You are in control of fitting in.

“Fitting in” is meant to be uncomfortable.

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

Have patience with people. They may not have patience with you but be the bigger person when this happens. Smile and kill them with kindness.

When you do things you enjoy such as dance classes, yoga, Crossfit, ASL, dental hygiene, etc, you’ll meet people who enjoy the same thing.

You will fit in when you’re meant to. People who don’t want you to fit in are assholes. If you meet assholes, RUN. (While you’re running, throw that middle finger up in the air. Okay, maybe not running with middle fingers but remember this, you’re standing ten feet taller than them. Even though it may not feel like it.)

Who really cares if they don’t like YOU.

It’s all apart of growth. You adapt and others will adapt with you. (I hope they do.)

That being said, just be yourself, your confident self.