There Is No Such Thing as Normal

Guest post by Riley Bess and Addison Gardner

One of the things that AnnaGrey struggles with is being so different from all of her peers. After a particularly hard day at school, she goes home and thinks about all of the awful events that happened to her: “A jumble of scenes flashes through my mind. The kids howling at me. The carpet burns from where I fell. My lunch tray tumbling out of my hands, food spilling everywhere, kids laughing. Mom said kids should accept others’ differences, but it’s hard to swallow her words knowing I’m the one who’s different.”

And sometimes, we feel like we are the only ones who have differences that stand out. But then, at some point in our lives, we can realize that those differences are what make us unique and part of the varied tapestry of the world. It’s also somewhat of a relief to find out that you aren’t the only one who feels like you are an outsider.

I'm so incredibly luck to have two brilliant women interning for me, and I asked them to contribute to this blog post. Honestly, their responses brought tears. What an honor it is to work with these women!
___

Riley Bess:

We all feel different at times and don’t want to accept ourselves for who we are. It’s scary to admit, but I definitely feel this way at times. I’m a big fan of a lot of things that my immediate family has considered “abnormal.” There are always voices in my head telling me I’m worthless or not good enough. Telling me that I should just give up.

However, this quote reminds me of a story that we all know pretty well. It is the story of The Ugly Duckling written by Hans Christian Andersen. To just recap a few things, the story is about an “ugly” duckling born within a duck family. As he grows older, the other ducklings tease him because he looks and sounds different than what they deem to be normal. In the end, when everything seems lost, the “ugly” duckling looks at himself in the water and sees a majestic swan. I sometimes feel like this ugly duckling, wondering how my differences will ever fit in. Just like this ugly duckling, I have felt ostracized and criticized. Over time, however, I have discovered something beautiful. A truth that I hope all of us can accept.

There is no such thing as “normal.”

We were all born with unique traits for a reason. Can you imagine if we were all born as the same person, with the same looks, talents, and passions? Just like how the ducklings in the duck pond made a “normal” for themselves, people in this world do the same thing. Just like how AnnaGrey gets pushed around and howled at, people like you and me (because I know we have all been there) get put down and teased because of our differences in a “normal” world.

HAnnaGrey and the Constellationere is another truth: our differences are what make us special.

Just like the “ugly” duckling, we can look into the water and at ourselves and see how beautiful our differences can be. So, I challenge you to look in the mirror and deep within yourself. What are the things you get teased for? What makes you different? And then take hold of those differences. Don’t let them go because they are what make you special.
___

Addison Gardner:

Being “abnormal” means you have a beautiful and fun personality. Being different makes you interesting, and that is a good thing. There is no reason to want to hide or change who you are to fit in because we are here in this life to be amazing and learn amazing things. In the moment, it’s hard to remember that but don’t let others put you down. If a friend came to you and said they hated how different they were, would you agree with them? No, you wouldn’t. You would tell them about all the things that make them incredible.

So, why should you tell yourself anything different?

One of my favorite fortune cookie quotes is, “The pleasure of what we enjoy is lost by wanting more.” I feel like this saying applies here because we sometimes lose the extraordinary parts of ourselves by wanting to fit in and appear normal. In doing that, we dim the light that sets us apart, and we shouldn’t lose the thing that makes us shine. So, be abnormal. Be different. Don’t stop shining because that is what makes you special.
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
No comments have been added yet.