Have you ever been called “weird?” What exactly does that mean?
Usually when someone refers to you as weird, it conjures up negative feelings. You are being told that you are odd, different and that you don’t fit the conventional norms of the day. We are taught early in life that being different is social suicide and going off the quintessential “beaten path” is choosing a life of solitude and ridicule.
I’ve been blessed to have worn the “weird” label my whole life. And the truth is–I am weird. I have weird views on life, finances and romance. I march to the beat of my own drum and forge my own paths where none previously existed. In short, I am extremely proud and honored to be called “weird.”
“So you’re a little weird? Work it! A little different? OWN it! Better to be a nerd than one of the herd!”~Mandy Hale
Society has conditioned us to be conformist. When you are called weird instead of hearing an insult, you should understand that you have just been paid one of the highest compliments. You have just been told that you are unique, bold, daring, exceptional, authentic and that you are special. Weird people think differently and choose to respond to the world around them differently – they own their individuality. It takes courage to go against the grain and to choose a distinct path in life.
Weird people are divergent thinkers
Being able to see the world, problems and situations from a perspective that is unique from the masses is truly a gift. When you are younger it does cause you a lot of problems. As a child, I’m guessing that your inquisitiveness – like mine – was mistakenly viewed as being obstinate, and difficult and efforts were made to quickly stamp out that “perverse” thinking before it could infect the others. In school, unfortunately we are taught what to think and not how to think for ourselves.
Divergent thinkers are the ones who change the world. Throughout history, most of our true heroes had views that were directly opposed to the popular opinion of their day. They stood – many times alone – and championed their cause with or without help from others. Being able to see the world through a different set of lenses enables you a unique vantage point and the ability to attack problems and issues in away that no one else can. Your one weird idea could be the catalyst for change this world needs – don’t be tricked into conforming.
Being Weird is a superpower
The ability to own being weird gives you the power to accept the dare. The world throws so much at us and many times ordinary people live ordinary lives because they do not dare rise to the challenge. And this doesn’t mean (although it could) solving world hunger or putting an end to violence forever. Daring behavior shows up in our day-to-day thinking about small things. It is displayed in how we think and respond to political decisions, how we raise our children or how we make financial decisions.
My husband and I were married very young and we decided that we wanted to live a life without debt or with very little debt. So our first small step was the decision not to use credit cards to make any purchases. When we shared our new endeavor with our loved ones we were patted on the head and told that it was an impossible and very impractical way to live. We were informed that you HAD to have a credit card to travel, rent cars and conduct certain types of business–no two ways about it–it just wasn’t doable in today’s society. My husband and I listened carefully to the advice of our well meaning friends and family and we quietly accepted the dare.
Twenty years later we are still credit card free, have traveled all over the world and rent cars regularly. The most phenomenal part about the whole process is the dare taught us how to be fiscally responsible, set us up for a very early retirement, helped my husband choose his career (he’s an accountant) and given us the ability to counsel others financially. The genesis of our financial success began with a simple dare.
