No, this is not about the song. This is about a person. Or perhaps a type of person. For those of you who know little about animals, chameleons, except having a long sticky shootable lounge and a nasty habit of eating insects, are lizards that can change their color to that of their surroundings. They can blend in with the crowd, they are perfect, unspottable, and we think we know them well. But when they come to a new environment, they seem to change, and they are not the same. Some people are like this…
Do not confuse change with reinvention. Change, if slow and gradual can lead to reinvention, or reinvention can be simply showing different parts of your persona. But chameleons are not like that. They retain some of their basic features, while their whole self undergoes a massive change.
I have had the pleasure of meeting a chameleon. I even got to know the person (or at least I thought). But being a part of The Hague international and mobile community, I suppose one cannot expect to enjoy the company of one’s friends very long. This particular person, however, has been known to adapt perfectly wherever they go. Whatever the school, whatever the country and whatever the community, these people use their chameleon-like powers to blend in with the crowd. They never have any problems with life, they change themselves to suit the life they are leading.
But this brings questions? Who is the real person behind the chameleon? What does this person want? Does this person know it or is it just possible that, somehow, these people do not mind changing their self to suit their environment? Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s admirable that they can take on new challenges with ease and make the best of their time somewhere. Nevertheless, it leaves me wondering, do they know what they want?
There are two answers, either yeas or no. If yes, the chameleon-ishness is a means to achieve their goals. It is a valuable tool, that, combined with brainpower, determination and skill, is essential to survival in our world. If the answer, however, is no, then the constant change is a failure, because the person does not know, and perhaps doesn’t want to admit what they want. But don’t worry, the chameleon I know is of the first type, and I must say, it’s one of the coolest, smartest and funny people I know.
If you are a chameleon, I hope you are the one that always goes after their goal and does not hide from the inevitable truth. If you do not want to be a chameleon, well, I cannot help you, becasue I am not a shrink and I have never been one so I really don’t know how it feels. But hey, people are different, and as long as you do not want to hurt others (for any reason), there is no reason to worry. Even if you are a chameleon.
Peter
