The Mirage of Naked Validation: When “More” Is Never Enough
Kadija is walking with Zara through a bustling city square. Zara notices a group of people dressed in various extremes — some hyper-trendy, others barely dressed. She nudges Kadija, clearly baffled.
Zara:
K, can you explain something to me? Why do people think they’ll be respected by wearing… less?
Kadija (smirking):
Oh, Zara, welcome to another great comedy of the insecure masses. Let me break it down for you.
Zara (giggling):
Please do. I’m dying to know the logic.
Kadija (gesturing toward a woman nearby):
Take her, for example. She spent hours planning that outfit, thinking it’d make her the star of the city. But here’s the reality — she stepped out, and boom! She blends right in with all the other “look-at-me” chaos. Her “calculated activation,” as I like to call it, got slashed to zero.
Zara:
“Calculated activation?” What does that even mean?
Kadija:
It’s when they carefully pick an outfit, calculating the exact level of attention they think it’ll bring. But they forget one thing — when everyone’s trying to shine with the same gimmick, no one stands out. They’re just another raindrop in the puddle.
Zara (laughing):
Oh my God, yes! So then what do they do?
Kadija (leaning in):
The next step is panic. They sit there, pretending not to care, but you can feel it. Some will start acting weird — doing random things to grab attention. Others double down, thinking, “If I wear even less next time, surely they’ll notice me!”
Zara:
And?
Kadija:
And nothing. The world’s tired of naked legs and crop tops by then. They’ve seen it all. Now, they’re just a candy wrapper on the street, desperately trying not to get trampled.
Zara (laughing uncontrollably):
Kadija, stop! I can’t breathe!
Kadija (grinning):
I’m not done, Zara. The best part is when they go on a dating spree, thinking each new relationship will validate them. Spoiler alert — it doesn’t. If anything, they just demote themselves from a discarded candy wrapper to used toilet paper.
Zara (wiping tears):
You’re brutal.
Kadija (shrugging):
Just honest. Meanwhile, someone like me walks into a room in a simple outfit that matches who I am — no gimmicks, no desperation. The respect comes naturally.
Zara:
And they hate you for it.
Kadija (smiling):
Oh, you bet they do. But that’s not my problem. When you’re secure, you don’t need validation. You don’t need the latest iPhone or some ridiculous runway look that doesn’t even suit your body.
Zara:
It’s true. You see people flaunting things, thinking they’re fooling everyone.
Kadija:
Exactly. You can’t buy authenticity. And the irony? The more they chase validation, the more invisible they become.
Zara:
So, what’s the takeaway here?
Kadija:
Be yourself. Dress like yourself. Live like yourself. Stop thinking that more exposure, more trends, or more “stuff” will earn you respect. It won’t. Respect comes from knowing who you are and living it honestly and with full integrity.
