I Tried to Be Someone I'm Not

It's funny how much effort you put into pretending when you know deep down it doesn't matter. Last month, I started a new job and thought dressing up like the 'perfect professional' would help me fit in better. Wearing button-down shirts and suits that pinched around my stomach every time I breathed, I tried to embody this persona of being cool, calm, collected. It was exhausting, lying about my interests and hobbies because I believed they wouldn't align with those at work. One day, a coworker mentioned liking a type of music I normally avoid, and I found myself nodding along enthusiastically. Later that week, I received an email from HR asking if everything was okay, apparently, there had been some feedback about me coming off as distant. It dawned on me then how fake it all felt. The next day, I wore my usual clothes and spoke about my genuine interests, and to my surprise, people seemed more interested in the real me.