Thought Burst
I had a dream last night in which I was having a conversation with someone I considered to be a ‘guru’ of sorts… no one I know in real life, probably a conglomeration of people.
What I remember was one thing he said to me:
“It’s hard to stand out if you’re busy trying to fit in. Choose to be outstanding or choose to be comfortable.”
I suppose it was just my subconscious processing something I already know – but it was good timing. Because I had been thinking about how much I didn’t fit in when I was in high school (probably the result of watching a few DVR’d episodes of High School Confidential before going to sleep) and thinking about whether or not my daughter will feel the same way.
In the end, I like being me. I may not be like everyone else – but that just means it’s easier to pick me out of a crowd.
If I have to sacrifice a little comfort for that? So be it.
GeekMommy's Weblife 
That is so very true – and resonated amongst many “gurus.” One such idea is that in order to progress, you have to move outside of your comfort zone.
How ever you want to call it – “fitting in” or just “being comfortable” – it’s clear that doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result is sheer stupidity =)
I never “fit in” in High School either – and now I’m glad for it ^.^
Dreams are a wonderful enigma, although the answers found in them are often times not something we’re quite yet ready to face…
How cool is that dream? What a coincidence that the words of wisdom were within 140 characters. Thanks for sharing.
Agreed!
Funny thing tho, I never saw it as me fitting into their world, I always saw it as them fitting into mine. Paradigm shift, anyone?
I agree completely. I spent so much time trying not to stand out in high school (due to not fitting in), that I’ve had to spend conscious effort breaking out of my shell over the last decade. I’d say I’ve done pretty well. =)
I was a bit of a misfit “brainiac” back in High school. It was not until college and grad school that my social circles caught up and I had a smoother social fit. Even then, I was never part of the “in crowd”. But I have become a successful, confident grownup. Even knowing all of that, it is still heart breakingly painful to be there as your kids go through fits of social “outcast” and work to find their own legs. They have been taught to embrace their geekiness, but teenagers will revolt.
I definitely agree with this. I may not be too far removed from my high school years, but I know for sure that I did not belong. I was awkward [still am], somewhat shy, and the complete opposite of what my athletics-oriented school found to be ‘popular’. I had my own group of friends, and we stuck to ourselves for the most part.
But I don’t think I would have had it any other way. I have much more respect for people, and higher standards for friends specifically [not in a snobbish way, but in a good way].