Standing Out From The Crowd

Sometimes people feel like they aren't special or that they have no self meaning.  Just the other day, I had a similar encounter with a family relative who is in the process of applying to college. The frustration and stress of writing personal statements was followed by the comment "I'm not special or different from anyone else, why would they chose me - I have no talent - so what's the point?" This remark really resonated with me.  


So, here's my suggestion: what you will need: Faith, Love, Trust, Belief and Determination.  
1) Do something you love
2) Try something new
3) Don't compare yourself to others 
4) Be confident and trust in your abilities
5) Believe in yourself


It's all psychological. People live up to their expectations. If you think you're not good at anything, you'll make that thought become a reality. But if you are sufficiently confident you're a great dancer, singer or painter, you're confidence will shine through and you will be looked as a great dancer/singer/painter.


STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD.  

Halloween.

So Halloween is coming up, and for this year I have decided I want to dress up like the child from the Spanish horror movie, El Orfanato (http://www.programasdetv.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/el-orfanato.jpg) I think that it will make for a couple of fantastic laughs. I’ve never been much of a Halloween spirit myself, however, it might be my sisters last year in the US depending on where she goes to university, so I better make the most of it. For years I have wondered why the Americans are just enthusiasts when it comes to celebrating the night in which evil spirits rise again from the grave? So with this question I set out to do some glorious research – I wikapedia-ed it! So Halloween was a celebration that the Celtics would celebrate then called All Hallows Eve, just like in Sleepy Hollow, the day where they would bless and convert pagans. Now we call it Halloween because we can’t be bothered to say all three words, so we sort of mashed them together and then spread the word that a new celebration was born! We are supposed to dress up to honour the Celtics who would wear masks to scare away the evil spirits and not have demons present themselves as humans among them. Now we like to trick or treat, and I admit, when I was younger I had fun but now… well that’s another story. Halloween is just another day like school where I have to decide what to wear, and that’s already a fiasco, I really don’t need another (lol). The commercialization of Halloween has just turned a traditional holiday into a breeding ground for consumers to buy and compete against others, ‘who has the most decorations?’ ‘who offers the best sweets?’ ‘who has the best costume?’ what are we, 5 year olds?

It "drives" me crazy when..

I’m slowing down because the traffic light has just turned red, so I stop. I have stopped so what is with the man in the big pickup truck behind me still attempting to ram up the back of my car’s tires. I roll forward slightly and the giant monster of a vehicle follows quickly in pursuit. I just want to shout ‘I’m not rolling forward for fun, I’m trying to get away from you!’ but he outs for blood. I stop again. He stops. I roll. He rolls. It’s like an ongoing game of musical chairs except we’re jiggling forward to Eminem and instead of using our juvenile bodies as the source of fun, we’re using blocks on wheels.  Doesn’t the pickup man understand that I don’t want his car so close and that ramming up my car’s backside isn’t going to make the traffic light turn green faster? I roll forward, he rolls forward – I guess not then. Haven’t you noticed this too? If you haven’t, try it...

The "ugly" duckling

Throughout life, we have constantly been reminded that creativity is a talent rather than an innate ability instilled within each and every one of us.  Of course, that is not to say that we are all creative in the same way, rather, we all make individual choices throughout life that make us unique - so why is everyone so scared of embracing difference?

This reminded me of a childhood tale that I'm sure most of you have come across - "the ugly duckling." In short, a swan mistakenly hatched from a ducks nest becomes the source for ridicule and neglect because of his strange and different appearance.  Through stories such as these, although they appear innocent at first glance, their messages are clearly communicating one thing: "to be accepted means being indifferent."  If children as young as this are being subjected to such erroneous statements then it is obvious as to why being the "odd one out" is such a stigmatized nightmare.

What is being forgotten here is that difference provides the raw material for ideas, innovation and change.  The world has evolved through creativity and will continue to do so.  Like the "ugly duckling," it is only when we embrace our uniqueness that we find passion for life and ultimately happiness. 

Now, let that be a lesson to you all -  go, be creative and discover your own "ugly duckling."