The Significance of Being Uniquely You
“Diane’s podcast is remarkable! She is such a gifted writer AND speaker. Yes, she is a gift!”
Dr. Linda Bowman
Dr. Seuss is credited with asking this memorable question: Why fit in when you were born to stand out?
High five! I fizz with excitement over an opportunity to celebrate novel creativity. Fresh ideas, original forms of expression through sound or art, or innovative approaches to unsolvable problems. Those unexpected breakthroughs that result in “Why didn’t I think of that?” facepalm moments.
Think butter boards, which began having their moment in mid-September, although they have apparently been around for a few years. By now, butter boards are already either loved as a fun—yet dated—bonding experience à la fondue, or loathed as a disgusting, cholesterol-laced, regretful flash in the pan. The immediate question I pondered was whether the butter board fad would finally make bread stylish to eat again.
I don’t strive to emulateor even repurpose something that’s already been done. I’m also not obsessedwith trying to be new or fresh or hip. I work hard at being me. The most memorablyimpactful people in my life are capable, confident, and open-minded. Above all,they accept themselves, me, and others for who we are, not who they think weshould be.
When a reporter orpodcaster reaches out to me for a comment on a story or to serve as a guest ontheir podcast, it’s not because I look or sound like every author, influencer,or subject matter expert out there. It’s because I’m taking a different approach.
Here is the question I getasked most often: “Why are you focusingon the psychological impact of cancer when we should be focused on findingcures for the various types of cancer?”
I typically smile andcalmly reply with this: “Because I haveyet to have anyone tell me that focusing on mental health as it pertains tocancer is a really dumb idea. The brain is part of the body, cancer is an extremelytraumatic experience, and our minds—just like the rest of our bodies—deservecompassionate healing.”
Do you agree with Dr.Seuss? If so, what makes you memorable? Relevant? Timeless?
