I'm Mom, Me

Month 6: Mission 6: Enjoying my differences


Different is good. Dare to be different. Why fit in when you were born to stand out?

These are just a few of the quotes you've probably heard about celebrating the many differences found among people. And while these and many other popular quotes and common sayings about being different seem to celebrate uniqueness, the truth is, being different, feeling different can be quite unsettling. Some will readily admit this and others won't, but I feel confident in saying that for most people, we all want to fit in and know that we belong.

For most of my life, in most areas of my life, I've felt like an "other." Not quite something enough to penetrate an existing group and feel like I really belong. I've always just felt different....like my interests, ways of thinking, desires, etc. never fully meshed with those around me. And as much as I would love to swallow and accept that different is good, different, many times, feels bad. It's feels isolating and confusing because you're left wondering why you aren't more like others.

But even as I type this, I'm having an "aha" moment... realizing that belonging and being different are not one in the same. Just because you are different...act differently, think differently, live differently doesn't mean that you don't belong. You might be the "odd ball" in your family, but that doesn't make you any less of a member of your family. That just makes you, you and that's something I need to learn to embrace and own...all the time.

For me personally, I know that I have created a negative connation with being different. I overthink things, I ponder situations way too much, and I'm too impacted by what others think. All of which I think stems back to my original thinking in that being different somehow affects my belonging, when in fact, it really doesn't. Instead of feeling different and viewing it as something negative, I can think of it as finding happiness in other areas. Some may find their happiness in hanging out with friends, or working on cars, or baking, and my happiness may come from other things. And that's ok. I don't have to apologize {like I talked about here} or feel awkward, I can just live in my happiness and keep it moving. Right?

I say this all time because I think it's so true; we are all works in progress and this just happens to be one area in which I know I need to improve and that's the whole point of this Makings of Me series. There's really no point or joy in living your life trying to fit in and be like the masses. Be who you are and own it, weirdness, differences and all. Live in your happiness and others will respect and likely really envy your ability to do so.

I'd like to end with a few {maybe} familiar words to reinforce the goodness found in being your different self! Thanks for reading!

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

Being called different is like being called limited edition. Meaning you're something people don't see that often. Remember that. Be proud of it.

In order to be irreplaceable, one must be different. Coco Chanel