I shared that I was awkward the other day and the awkward amongst us said me too! Together we get to celebrate our weird. Those unique things which make up our personality. But are you celebrating you for all you are? The acknowledgement of them and owning of them is one thing, to celebrate them is something else altogether.
Celebrating what makes you you that’s the sturdy foundation of confidence in my books. And hey presto I’ve thought of something to help you do that because there’s freedom in that. When you accept yourself for who you are, then you make decisions based on who you are and no one can mess with that. You can finally breathe out and say phew, I’m okay. Heck, I’m more than okay, I’m AWESOME.
*everything is awesome; everything is cool…* Damn you Lego Movie.
I was at a conference once. It was personal development related and my buttons were being pushed all day. I can still remember the trickle of sweat, that one single bead, slipping down my back as the panic rose in my chest. Keeping my weird under wraps was exhausting. People around me seemed so normal, so together… Soooo nothing like me.
I’ve talked before about leaving the networking event and bursting into tears. About the fear and the panic, I had then when surrounded by people. The truth behind that is that I didn’t like myself much then. Speaking in public and being with people, something that comes out me easily now, was my worst nightmare. Something happened in the middle there. In highschool, you couldn’t shut me up.
On my way out, I ran into one of the speakers at the course. She saw I was upset and stopped me. She told me there was nothing to fear from other people. That I needed to stop being so afraid and show people who I really was. All of me. That night I realised that I was terrified of being seen for who I was and who I wasn’t. In all areas of my life, there was a fear of being discovered, revealed for this flawed human I was.
But it turns out that I wasn’t alone. I had never been alone in my whole life when I took the time to look around me. Funny that. There are plenty of folks out there who are afraid to be themselves and show people who they really are. Weirdness and all. Weirdness especially! Maybe you are one of them. Maybe you’ve been one of them. Today we celebrate all we are instead of all that.
Today we are celebrating our weirdness.
And you don’t just get to sit there, nod and smile and say that’s lovely Suger, there’s something for you to do. I’m asking you to celebrate your weird. I literally want to see it. If there’s a photo, a blog post, a status update or anything else you can share that demonstrates YOUR own personal brand of weird I want to see it.
Hi! I’m Melissa Walker Horn. Around here, they call me Suger. I’m the Chief Blogger and doer of all the things here at Suger Coat It. Blogging since 1901; I love a casual ootd, taking photos, and writing about things that irk or inspire me. I love wine and cheese, long days at the beach and spending time with my family. I make stuff for the internet over at Chalkboard Digital. You know, living the sweet life.
I love weird. I AM weird. I’ve always been in-between though. Not out right weird (I’ve actually been told I’m too “straight” looking…?!?!?!), and definitely not normal. I’m a quiet observing sort of weird. Its only in these past few years that I have really come into my own and become comfortable in my weirdness. It is my strength. I like being the one that surprises people because I know origami, or have people look twice at me as they walk past me because I wear Vibram five fingers and wooden earrings, and it doesn’t really make sense to them with the rest of how I look. I don’t make sense. I love not making sense. And I love people who don’t make sense. It means that some people underestimate me and thats their story. It also means that like minded people recognise me and THAT makes it all worthwhile!
Not making sense is THE best thing. I love that parts of you makes perfect sense, then others don’t, then none of it does but means it does in a lot of ways. Haha. I’m so glad you shared this. I may have confused myself though… Must reread this comment. 😉
I love your weird. I love our weird and I love how weird we are together. I love how our weird makes us so much cooler than the ordinary people. Let’s be weird together forever! x
HAHA. Indeed it does. WAY COOLER. Yes. Let’s! I loved your photobomb on the comment today, I was in a solicitors office at the settlement of Dean’s house with him when they came through and I had tears streaming down my face, even he was having a chuckle.
I’m racking my brain a little here to think what is my own personal brand of weirdness! I know I have weirdness within me but I also know there are probably others out there that are weird in the same way if that makes any sense at all lol!? I do love to sing & groove. If there is a song on anywhere and I know the words I will sing a long and tap my foot but I am sure there are a million other people out there in the world that do that too. Hhhhmmmm one I need to think on.
Haha. It’ll be that, it’ll be other things, it’ll be a million small things. Keep looking Mel, and when you find them, get excited. 😀
I think I’m the opposite. I used to really open with people about my life but now I hold back. It’s not because of nervousness but because there are things I don’t want on the table for discussion (or be given advice about). It might sound a bit egotistical but I now feel like people have to prove themselves before I share the real side of me with them.
I’d never thought of things that way. Very interesting indeed.
I totally understand this. I always thought my tendency to hang back was a negative thing. Then I got older and realised that it acted as a filter, and that it was an awesome filter because I had people in my life who took extra time to see me in a way that most people don’t bother with.
When my son was a teenager, I’d talk about issues with him at work and realised it lead to a lot of unwanted advice and figured I was opening the flood gates by mentioning it. Once i started holding back, I realised it is good to filter people sometimes — the filter thing is the perfect way to describe it. Like having rooms in your house you don’t let casual visitors enter.
I was thinking about this an my Dad is the same way. My friends from school used to be surprised how after a period of time he would be joking and chatty with them when before he came off as reserved. I think as long as you’re open to letting people in, when/how doesn’t matter.
Oh yes… In high school I had this outgoing confidence and somewhere it’s been lost… And sometimes I find it hard to share my weird…. I thought about what I could share and it has to be my love of karaoke… I love karaoke and Singstar and take it very seriously lol… This photo was taken at a karaoke bar in Tokyo on a girls trip with my sister – we actually got kicked out for staying to long – it sums up my weird – sometimes I question whether I have a passion – I think this might be it 🙂
Yeeeeesssss!! You’re weird would love my weird. And Liv from Wait Until the Sunset’s weird. We LOVE Singstar. Soooo good. And sooooo bad at the same time. Haha. Sing-off!
OH ITS ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! 😀
HA! Yup. 😉
You ladies are all Fantastic 🙂 oh and apparently singing can reduce stress and lower blood pressure so it can only be a good thing!
Win/win, right? Though Liv’s neighbours might not think so. Haha.
I love karaoke. Am surprised you got kicked out though. I’ve found in Japan, so long as you’re paying, you can keep going forever 🙂
And you stumble out four days later with glitter in your hair… HA.
hehe – I a pretty sure that’s just how I tell the story – I think we just finished our time and someone else was waiting to use the room… 😉
Oh yes… In high school I had this outgoing confidence and somewhere it’s been lost… And sometimes I find it hard to share my weird…. I thought about what I could share and it has to be my love of karaoke… I love karaoke and Singstar and take it very seriously lol… This photo was taken at a karaoke bar in Tokyo on a girls trip with my sister – we actually got kicked out for staying to long – it sums up my weird – sometimes I question whether I have a passion – I think this might be it 😉
Dang it’s doubled up…
As the old saying goes “There’s nowt as queer as folk”. I did a bit of people watching whilst in the Hairdressers today and Yes I think most of us relate to your post! x
Haha. Indeed. And the hairdresser is a great place for that. 😉