I don't always wear a yarmulke in public as I feel it is not something that actually defines me as being Jewish. In fact, the only time I ever wear a formal Jewish head covering is when I go to shul or attend something of a religious nature.
I could if I wanted to wear it all the time. I could if I wanted to, wear it never. But I do respect those who want to wear it as a way for them to express their Judaism and connection with the community.
Of course, what you feel inside can be much more powerful than just putting on a head covering for the sake of it and because it is part of the tradition.
For me wearing something on my head doesn't make me feel more Jewish. My soul is Jewish, my outlook in life is Jewish and I keep to as much as I can while living in the modern world and wrestling the dilemma of being modern and at the same time understanding what being Jewish means in society.
So for me, it is a choice to not cover my head outside of shul or other religious environments.
But when a Jew wishes to embrace wearing something on their head as part of their religious practice, then of course I have the deepest respect for their decision to do so.
If you have ever wanted to read the feelings of why a Jew wears a yarmulke (and by Jew we actually really only mean men as women are frowned upon by certain sections of the community if they want to wear one) then Zion Report blogger Tovya has an excellent piece about it.
The day that I began to wear a kippah changed everything. It all got easier. Hashem provided me just the help that I needed.
It became easier because upon my head rested a reminder, not only to me but to those around me, that first and foremost I am a Jew. Everything else comes second.
Immediately, all of my non-Jewish friends ceased cursing in my presence, they stopped talking about women in an indecent manner, and best of all they stopped asking me to do things that are forbidden for me to do.
More about this in To Kippah, Or Not To Kippah, That is the Question.

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