Oh, dear, where do I begin?
You're not alone in your feelings about being quirky, or strange. In fact, you are the norm. I know this because there is something called the Inner Weirdo.
There is no such thing as normal. Not always fitting in or following the unspoken "rules" has allowed us to discover new things. But sometimes we need a little push to give ourselves permission to release our Inner Weirdo and explore every one of our unique quirks.
We're all strange whether we'd like to admit it or not. We are multifaceted beings. There is always something that most of us hide from the public because we're a little embarrassed about it. Just because the world doesn't know about it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
Being your authentic self is needed to bring the Inner Weirdo out in others and make real social connections. This blog is about embracing the weirdness in you and showing it off proudly. Because pretending to be someone else doesn't make you nearly as interesting as your true self.
Why are people weird?
There could be many reasons why people may consider others to be weird. Sometimes people consider others who have less social skills weird because they're a little awkward in social settings. Maybe it's awkward to start or carry on a conversation with others.
Some of us also experience social anxiety. People who experience social anxiety may worry about embarrassing themselves in social settings or have a fear of interacting with strangers because they feel others will notice how anxious they are at the moment.
In these situations, social training can be useful. We live in a world where we hide behind computers or phones and social media apps but many of us have little social interaction with other humans on a daily basis. This means that our social skills have weakened over time and we don't even realize it.
There's also neurodivergence. Neurodivergence is a fancy word for describing anyone who processes ideas and/or behaves differently than what is considered typical. Neurotypical is another term used to describe neurodivergence. Lovely humans who have been diagnosed with autism/Aspergers, ADHD, etc. are often times described as neurotypical or neurodivergent.
An idea to keep in mind is that neurodivergence is very broad and depending on a diagnosis, people may fall under different areas of the spectrum. It's also important to note that there are many adults who are neurodivergent but because they're so high functioning, they've been undiagnosed their whole lives.
High-functioning neurodivergent people make it very hard for "normal" people to detect their conditions in social interactions (and honestly, not that these conditions should really matter if you're seeking authentic relationships). People who are unaware of such conditions may think that neurodivergent individuals are acting strangely just because they're different.
Let's talk about quirks
If you're feeling out of place because people have made questionable comments about your quirks, remember that being different is good. It can be emotionally hard to realize people won't always approve of your quirks. It's also challenging to have to deal with the fact that some people will try to step on your toes once in a while.
You're no less than the person sitting next to you or in front of you. You're just uniquely different and people are just not used to that.
Sometimes being quirky can make us feel like a circus act when we're introducing ourselves to new people. Instead of trying to be someone that you're not because it's what you believe is socially acceptable, just be yourself and love the diversity that you offer to the social table.
You were made for this world and no one else can fill that role. Sure, you may not be the right 'cup of tea' for some but others will love you for being your true self and those are the people you'll want in your circle anyways.
Everyone is unique in some way, so don't compare yourself to others so much. Instead, embrace your Inner Weirdo and own it!
Related: 6 Ways to break self-doubt
It's Ok to be strange
We often find ourselves in a position where we see others making friends rather quickly. Yet, because we feel different, we feel left out. This can be especially true if you were looked at as "weird" when you were a kid and tried to escape being bullied or made fun of by coping with loneliness.
It's unfortunate to say that we do live in a world where labels and categories matter to others when they shouldn't. This is learned behavior and most people don't realize it because it's been this way forever.
We've been conditioned to fit ourselves into specific categories made by society and those that don't necessarily fit those categories make social labeling very difficult for people that can't think outside of the box.
If you've been waving your weirdo flag proudly and high, it's unlikely you've been able to fit into just any or all groups. That's okay! Think about it, why would you want to be in a group that you won't be able to identify with, in the first place?
Being in social settings where you can't relate to others and vice versa gets very lonely too. People in the wrong social groups are constantly judged or criticized just because they dress, think, or behave differently than everyone else in that group. Having to constantly walk on eggshells or justify why you are the way that you are just to make everyone else` comfortable is quite toxic and that's unnecessary in your life.
While sometimes you may feel that you have to develop some tolerance for being alone, there are people out there whom you have not met yet who will appreciate your weirdo flag and who can relate to you.
The power of strange situations
Weirdos, or strange people, often times tend to have amazing strengths and creativity. If you think about it, some of the well-known names that have paved the way for our current lives were probably considered weirdos back in their day.
Have you thought about Einstein's infamous photos? Doesn't seem like the guy ever had a good hair day but, oh how amazing, have his contributions been to the world!
What about Picasso? His paintings were not ordinary and his weird style of art actually flourished into what we know now as cubism art, which began in the early 1900s.
What I am trying to say is that weirdos offer incredible impacts on the world because of their uniqueness.
That's not normal! Be glad that you're not normal!
Not being normal isn't always bad. It can be great! People who are “normal” are kinda boring because they:
Have average interests
Are scared of being different so they play along like everyone else
Don't say what's on their mind because they're scared of judgment
Guess what? By embracing your Inner Weirdo, you're giving yourself the opportunity to achieve interesting things that others are too afraid to do because of external judgments.
Going after the things that you truly enjoy provide you with the blessing of achieving valuable life experiences that are specific to you. Not everyone is meant to have the same experiences as you.
So don't be like everyone else. Let your uniqueness shine and embrace the fact that you've got a condition.
The weirdness is what makes you, you.
In a world full of normal, we all can be pretty bland. So be proud and do you, boo.
Be the weirdo you want to see in this world. Get weird with your fashion choices.
Freak out about what freaks you out, and tell it to the world, please!
Own who you are because chances are there are others similar to you who are looking for you but can't find you (and they need you in their life as well because they feel the same way as you).
Do things that make you feel like yourself. Eat the cake. Order the bubble tea. Wear the ice cream earrings or puffy sleeves. Don't worry what other people think. Say no to toxic people and toxic thinking patterns.
At the end of the day, people will remember more about those who were genuine than those who were just acting like everybody else.
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