The greatest issue for children and teens is the acceptance of their peers. Most rate the importance of acceptance higher than that of getting a good grade on an exam. Do you remember in high school how badly you wanted to fit into a particular group or be considered “cool?” The pressure could be brutal at times.
I recently joined Facebook (yeah I know, I am late to this game) and have been taking a walk down memory lane. I am now reconnected with peers from every age of life. Even as far back as 33 years to my kindergarten comrades. FB is an amazing social tool to stay connected with everyone in your life, but this post isn’t about FB (probably a future post).
A teenage pal, Heather Ann reminded me this past week that I was not a normal kid on the block. And so did Kimya and a few others. It seems I was always a bit (understatement) of an adrenaline junkie and like to do or invent things that were … well extreme and this was long before X Games made mainstream.
My childhood buddies gave me the perspective that reinforces something that I have learned in the past few years. Since embarking on an intense journey of personal development study, mentoring, formal study, and inner study I now understand that I don’t have to fit into “the norm.” In fact I don’t want to. Besides, what is “the norm” anyway. Norms are very different for different cultures, social groups, and locales.
I have stopped trying to fit and now fully embrace “me.” Like you, I have unique and extraordinary skills and traits. Why fight what nature gave us to be more like others? Why try to be like someone else’s extraordinary style? Why fit into the “ordinary” expectations of our culture. We are all so different and that is one of the most amazing aspects in life. Genetically we may be nearly identical, but we are worlds apart in personalities, beliefs, and norms.
There is a remarkable freedom in being your unfettered self. After listening to Dr. Mel Levine in his talk “How should young minds be aligned?” (can be found at Simplyaudiobooks.com) my perspective was widened even more when he talked about how a disadvantage in one aspect of learning (or life) can be a significant advantage in another.
It is now at this point in my life that being an adrenaline junkie has paid off in a big way. It goes far beyond the wild experiences of Bull shark diving, scuba to 220 feet, FIREwalking, Fire-eating,
pole climbing, or jungle cable zipping (to name a few) because my core need for uncertainly and excitement had helped me get my book published, launched my speaking career and will propel me through the rest of an amazing life.
Is your life extraordinary and amazing? Or do you wonder how you got to where you are and wonder what went wrong? If your life isn’t or becoming all that you dreamed of, you might want to stop and ask yourself, “Am I trying to fit into someone else’s mold and denying my true purpose in life?”
I now embrace my genetic traits and personality tendencies to search out answers I have always wondered about such as … “Why would someone jump out of a perfectly good plane?” “What does it feel like to fly like a bird?” “How can I change the world?”
Go out and search for the answers that have always tugged at
your heart.
Comments