PEBBLE
Yes, darling, you are different. I hope that someday you realize that not fitting in is actually a good thing.
~Brooke Hampton, shared by Jessica in Nashville, TN
BOULDER
Being called weird is like being called limited edition. It means you’re something that people don’t see that often. Remember that.
~Andy Biersack (Black Veil Brides) shared by Kristi in Pittsburgh, PA
PONDER
“You. Are. So. Weird.”
I heard this quite a bit growing up. Probably not every single day, but I regularly heard some variation of it from family members, friends, classmates, and even a few teachers. Looking back, I suspect these words were often meant less judgmentally than I experienced them. I’m guessing lots of people (kids and grownups alike) just didn’t know what to do with me. I seemed quite different than others around me: I was really sensitive/emotional and quicker to cry than lots of folks back then thought boys should be. I was also a goofball with lots of energy, spouting off wild ideas and sharing random thoughts that other people probably had but kept inside.
It took me a few decades of growing up, living life, and finding my place in the world* to realize that a lot of the quirks that make me weird are also the gifts that help me shine. My sensitivity helps me pick up information about what’s going on around and within me. My goofiness makes life a whole lot more fun for me and the people around me who appreciate me and my weird ways.
Along the way I’ve picked up a few tricks about when and where and how to unleash my weirdness. It turns out that maximizing your sparkle requires learning when to let it all hang out and when to hold back a bit. It also helps to make peace with the fact that some people won’t like you and your weirdness regardless of how you serve it up. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with them, either.
I hope this week includes opportunities for each of us to appreciate The Goodness of Weirdness in ourselves and in others.
You go with your weird self. YOU GO!
Peace,
Paul
P.S. *Therapy. Highly recommend. Finding the right person with the right training, background, and tools can help you embrace your yum and heal from yuck. It also makes it so much easier (and more fun) to do the whole “growing up, living life, and finding my place in the world” stuff. Highly, highly recommend.
