I want to take today to celebrate my own goofy, awkward nature. What better iconic image to represent this then my grade 2 school picture. Somehow, I thought it would be a good idea to cut my own hair the day before pictures were taken at school. I guess I figured I would have more hair left if I did it instead of dad. That was the day I realized that I would not have a future career in hair design.

What I really want to blog about today is a feeling while growing up that I was a bit different from mainstream society. Upon reflection, I bet everyone feels that, but I felt at a young age that I looked at things differently, and I thought about things differently. I was socially awkward as a kid and some days were gems, some were struggles. I would not trade them in for anything. The feeling of difference was an important cornerstone in my developmental years. I would not fully grasp the impact until many years later.

Today, I celebrate my difference and my goofy nature. I am pleased with myself that I do not feel a need to watch 15 hours of TV every week just so I can carry on a conversation on pop-culture media. I am also very pleased that I climbed down the corporate ladder and did not buy into the societal views of status of success. I do not feel I need to own a cottage, ski-doo, sea-doo, motorcycle, RV, quad, sports car, and a home in Phoenix to be successful. Society gives us a ready made formula for how life should be lived and what goals should be pursued, and that is a comfortable path for many. Not me. I am both pleased & proud that my different way of viewing the world has allowed me to debunk the societal norms.

I am still a gangly, awkward kid, albeit one with thinning hair and a pot belly. I still struggle in certain social settings. However, I celebrate my differences these days. I recognize and nurture those differences and accept them with open arms. What I have noticed is that when you are at peace with yourself and at peace with your beliefs, there are no longer any differences. They become similarities to the people you hold dear. They become a magnet that attracts others of like-minded views. Here’s to the goofy, offbeat people that bring color and character to the world. If I could meet that 8 yr old goofy kid that thought it would be cool to cut his own hair, I would say “Rock on little dude, you are a rockstar from mars. Keep no keeping on.” That would likely scar him for life as he pondered “What the hell did that weird old man just say to me?” The impact on the Geek-Time continuum would be profound to say the least.

Still Goofy with no fashion sense at 23.

I never felt comfortable with myself, because I was never part of the majority. I always felt awkward and shy and on the outside of the momentum of my friends’ lives. ~ Steven Spielberg