Aspire to Be Extraordinary
Where and when was it decided that people should be "Normal"? The definition of "Normal" in the Cambridge Dictionary is "Ordinary or usual; the same as would be expected." How boring is that? Why would any of us ever aspire to be normal? Unfortunately, from a very young age, social anxiety and peer pressure coerce us to be "normal" so we don't get picked on. Sometimes this behavior continues throughout our lives in school, the workplace and even with our friend groups and families. The problem with this is that we lose a part of ourselves trying to fit in to whatever the situation may be and sometimes when we get older, we lose sight of who we really are and end up going on a search and rescue mission to find our true selves. Recently, I have met a few women who are on a path to self discovery and they have inspired me to write this blog.
We need to be strong and be true to ourselves. When someone puts us down, we need to let it go and not internalize it. That person may have major insecurity issues and they may be lashing out at us to feel better about themselves or something horrible may have happened to them and they are so upset they yell at us for no reason. Today, everyone has a story that explains why they are the way they are but we don't share our stories with each other anymore so we are left to judge each other based on first impressions.
Make it a point to be who you are and choose to stand out instead of fit in. When you are comfortable and accepting of who you are, it makes it easier for others around you to feel more comfortable and accepting of you. You may also feel empowered and inspired to find your passion and pursue it. When you choose to embrace life instead of just enduring it, you may feel as though you have been unleashed and the possibilities ahead of you are endless. All of my life I tried to fit in and it wasn't until the age of 40, after I had been challenged with Multiple Sclerosis for 18 years, that I realized I wasn't put on this earth to be "normal". I was meant to stand out and make a difference in the world. Ultimately, each and every one of us has the power to say, "I am who I am and I'm proud of myself." Everything we have experienced and gone through up to this point in our lives has shaped us into the people we are today and we must give ourselves permission to accept the good, the bad and the indifferent from the past and utilize it to create who we're going to be going forward. Let's aspire to be extraordinary!