I guess that a lot of people do not have a great amount of self-confidence. Some can't wear hats because it makes them look stupid or funny. Hard to believe but there are people out there who feel like they look just awful if they wear bluejeans. My mother wore pants a couple times. Just feels like it is wrong.

My brother never wears hats. He never wears tweed though I think he would look great in it. He thinks he would look foolish. He does not mind being seen unshaven and wearing cheap sweats or wearing off-the-rack super-sized cheapo suits. NOT ME!

I often see recent immigrants from Afghanistan or Pakistan or India wearing what they arrived in, looking at the dizzying array of things in the supermarket. Many of them will want to shed their indigenous garb and suit-up in t-shirt and jeans as quickly as they can. Many will sit tight knowing that there is nothing wrong with how they came into this world.

You have the great advantage of living here in the States. We have broad spectrum experiences. Wearing a kilt you will encounter some expected questions and some unexpected ones. You will also encounter a lot of people who really don't care. Think about it - if you see a woman wearing a headscarf do you think her strange? How about a man wearing sandals and socks? Weird? Do you ask them, "hey, whats with the scarf?"

Lots of people feel that having a tattoo would be too weird. I avoid them because I could not easily change the look. Others, I think, like the fact that it shows they are dedicated.

Be strong! Look straight ahead and know that you are the way YOU are meant to be. Wear the hat! Wear the kilt. Do not fear the dialog! Enjoy. And, in the end, if it makes you feel uncomfortable then keep it in the closet for those extra-special events - kilted weddings, your bagpipe lessons. Tell you what - why not come to Gardner MA where nobody knows you and lets drink a couple pints?