Standing out

Growing up, I always found it so much more fun to be original, and not a carbon copy of everyone else. Starting at age 6, I had an every day reminder of this in my room- A black and white poster of a dalmatian with different colored spots that read, "Dare to be different". As a kid, that was definitely not a hard task for me. If I wanted something, I did what I had to do to get it- work for it, earn it, etc. I never wanted to be like everyone else. What was the fun in that? Why try to blend in when it was so much more fun not to? As I grew up, I learned that while standing out was amazing, you had to do it the "right" way. Too much attention wasn't a good thing (although it wasn't always "bad" either). Standing out was not always the popular thing to do, which is why is was probably a good thing that "popular" has never been something I strive to be.

Looking back, I can see where I lost some of the individualism, but I am proud to say that it isn't all gone. I've never been one to "follow" and I don't intend to start now. I have my own dreams, my own voice, and my own ambitions. I am proud to say that I follow my heart, not what's "popular". I love writing, reading, painting, making things, and working in our family business. I love being able to do the things that I find relaxing. And I am glad that I get to help show our son that he is allowed to be different and doesn't have to be like everyone else. That poster, though it seemed small at the time, helped shape my life in ways that I would have never dreamt of at 6. Being different is more fun, anyway.