The Joke’s On Me: I’m Not Normal!

From a very young age, I’ve been driven to prove I’m normal and that there is nothing wrong with me. I’ve wanted to prove I was like everyone else.

You see my mother was officially classified as ‘not normal’ and I’ve been driven to prove to the world and myself that I’m the opposite.

Years later I now realise the joke has been on me.

Years later I realise that not only am I not normal, no one else is either! I also realise I don’t want to be normal.

Normal is about being like everyone else – the same, not different, conforming to a standard.

Scientifically the odds of me having the same DNA as someone else is one in several billion. So it’s impossible anyway for me to be like anyone else. So I’ve spent my life to date trying to prove the impossible!

I now accept I am different to everyone else. I’m unique me. And if I’m unique me, then you are unique you too.

I also accept there is lots ‘wrong’ with me. And there is plenty ‘right’ with me too. So what? The same applies to everyone else.

And who is to say that what is ‘wrong’ with me is wrong anyway? Who is anyone to judge what is and isn’t wrong/right, normal/not-normal? Who is to judge whether I am perfect or not-perfect?

Just imagine a world where I was perfect, you were perfect, everyone was perfect, life was perfect. Just imagine a world where everything was perfect and there was no struggle and hence no victory. Sounds boring to me. Where’s the adventure, the fun, the excitement, the growth? Where’s the happiness?

Seems to me the ‘perfection’ of life is to be found in the imperfections. The perfection of life is to be found in the ‘not-normal.’

And maybe the gifts I can give to the world are wrapped up in my ‘imperfections’ and what is ‘not normal ‘about me . Maybe my imperfections are just perfect for me and just perfect for the world.

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So the joke has been on me all these years:

I’ve spent so much energy on trying to be normal and it’s been exhausting. The joke is that no-one is normal! And being normal is impossible.

I’ve held back on being who I really am in case people discovered who I really am; in case people discovered that I am different. And the joke is I am different and so is everyone.

And in this holding back, I’ve held back showing my uniqueness, my differences and in these are the seeds of the difference I can make in the world.

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Having seen the joke (it took a while), I’m committed to just being the authentic me. I’m committed to letting my differences shine through. I’m committed to making a difference by being different.

What is interesting is that I’ve been sharing with a few people my desire and drive all my life to be normal and to fit in and conform. Each person I’ve shared with has expressed the same.

It got me thinking. I think we are programmed to ‘conform’ and be like everyone else. Seems an easy way to control us. Yes? Heaven forbid if we all let our uniqueness shine bright in the world.

Here’s to inspiring you to join me in being proudly ‘not-normal.’

Here’s to you you letting your uniqueness shine bright in the world.

Here’s to the difference you will make by being different!

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