Quite frequently I embarrass my children by singing a song into an invisible microphone while driving my car. Sometimes I will even sing to the person or car next to us at a stoplight. It drives my sons absolutely crazy and that makes me laugh even more. Recently I noticed that one of my kids has started to join me. He understands that it’s OK to embrace laughter and silliness and reject the normal.
I have one life and I’m damn well going to live it the way I want to.
No one taught me this lesson better than my grandmother. The matriarch of our Italian American family, my grandmother never apologized for who she was. I can remember being in church with her and listening as she belt out the hymns louder and higher in tone than anyone else around us. She had no intention to quietly praise her God, she sang it out so that he would hear it loud and clear! I can remember seeing the other parishioners turn around and look at us and she paid them no mind. In fact, I swear, she sometimes got louder! Having her in my life has made me a stronger and better person. She has taught me to embrace who I am and to not apologize for it.
I wouldn’t say she is “normal,” but she sure is amazing.
As a society we spend way too much time trying to fit in. Men and women try to attain a certain body shape, wear the right clothes, hide their grays, drink the right drinks and have the “right” lives. They obsess about having the right political affiliations, about getting recognized and fitting in. This is a mistake. Focusing on fitting in means you are not embracing the possibilities of your life. Focusing on being normal may mean that you are hiding the difference that is you.
It is never too late to stop wasting your time. Don’t hide anymore. Stop trying to be normal and see how amazing you can truly be. Share your gifts with the world and be brave. You may receive some resistance at first, because most people live in fear. Laugh loudly. Sing at the top of your lungs. Dance like a fool. Laugh again. Just live and be amazing!
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