WHAT I HAVE LEARNED

It seems to me ... Some people dance to the beat of their own drum and they're so prideful about it they don't even want you listening to the music. They're the lone wolf drummers, so self absorbed in their uniqueness, they have to be so out there that it seems like their compensating with fashion and looks or eccentricness because perhaps deep down they're not ok with just being themselves, they want to be someone else... they have to be someone so physically different, outstanding, apart and this is what makes them feel alive or not lost.

...

Then some people play that drum and maybe it's their own beat but they do something incredible they bring everyone around them in together with them. They let them listen... if they so desire. Heck those people come running in from all directions to hear and be a part. And when someone isn't interested in the beat they don't begrudge them... because life isn't all about them and their music. They say "hey I have a pretty cool beat on my drum... i wanna know what yours sounds like" They aren't so obsessed with being different that they make everyone else around them feel lesser because they don't have as hip as beat. They'd never be caught saying "look at those sheep" Being unique doesn't mean being the center of the world or being better it is just an outward expression of who they are inside. They seem to know: You're special inherently (because you are a child of God and he loves you and that is incredibly special) ... specialness is not because of something you did or what you look like.

ENTER CRISTIANNE

Some people stand out by no choice of their own and some stand out because every choice they make and then defy everyone to stare or treat them different. And some just kinda just do the thing that feels natural to them. For Cristianne she loves her hair this way and it's different but really it just seems so completely normal to who she is. I actually rarely give it a second thought except times like this when I'm writing a post and realize that this is gonna be the thing that stands out to others. Ohhh that's right purple hair isn't normal.
She makes different seem normal.

When the unique thing you're doing is an extension of who you are you likely take very little thought to it. I went to lunch with Cristianne and people came up to the table just to compliment her and it's more that they gravitate, they come up compliment her all the time. You can be unique but you can add confidence and warmth and caring to that, you can invite people into a bit of your world and feel approachable no matter what that thing is that makes them stare a bit. Or you can wear your uniqueness like a badge of defiance... and I suppose you'll get exactly what you were expecting.

If you're gonna be unique...then one of the most enjoyable and aspiring ways is to be unique is in the way you emanate light to those around you.

Punky Brewster anyone?

I mean what's not normal about friends dressing up in Unicorn onesies for dinner on a fancy cruise ship?

Unique doesn't mean one sided... people are complex and if they have multiple sides that hopefully means they're well rounded.

THE MERMAID

Honestly I guess i don't watch enough mermaid shows but apparently when someone sees her they think mermaid. I just roll with it pretending I know the cultural refrences. She loves the mermaid life and is more than happy with the nickname.

Also she's gonna get a kick out of this message a friend that doesn't know her wrote.

YOU CAN BE WEIRD LIKE ME

I look at a picture of myself and think everything is pretty normal... but we all know I'm not normal in many ways mostly in the way i think. I have no problems recognizing my life is a little crazy and I'm a little weird and goofy and I haven't had the normal track of the normal person and I don't do a lot of things normal people do like: go to a job or live in a house, I once traveled the to all 50 states because i felt like i needed to make a book that wasn't going to make me much money and I've never even felt an inclination let alone actually drank, smoked etc etc . But in other ways I'm totally normal and that's fine as well. I like my pretty normal clothes and I'm probably happier with a baseball cap on than died hair.

WHAT WE CAN LEARN

Like my post yesterday there is a lot we can learn from people... from Nate hopefully we got a sense of faith and kindness and service.

From Cristianne you get a sense that this is a person who will make you feel special and unique
in who YOU are... which is pretty cool because she's very much so herself. But in both cases the hope is that we work to bring people into our lives instead of shut them out... that we think of the well being of others and that's what can make us happy.

This picture is not from the cruise... but the most impressive thing is seeing how much she adored her daughter and how much her daughter adored her. Now that's the kind of special you should strive for the type that connects you to others.