Last week a friend of mine confessed someone had suggested they stay away from me. Apparently I have “issues”. Apparently I am not normal.
For a few days I mulled over this information. It came from someone else who I would describe as an acquaintance, but for the purpose of this story I will call “Mr Normal”. Ironically, Mr Normal is someone who I would class as being a bit messed up in terms of his choice in “extra curricular activities”.
I inquired as to how Mr Normal came to this conclusion, given his limited time spent with me. It turns out it is largely derived from a few drunken conversations and the discovery of my blog and social media content.
At first I felt hurt. We all seem to strive to be accepted and fit in. But what does this really mean?
What the hell is normal anyway?
My personal take on this is that there is no such thing as normal when it comes to describing people and anyone who believes that normal exists as a mean of summing up someone’s personality or describes themselves in that way, is a tad delusional (in my humble, albeit nutty opinion).
I believe the difference between me and those “normal thinking” people is I am open and upfront not only to myself but in a public forum about my own quirks, issues, doubts, fears and shortcomings.
As I stepped out of my psychologist’s appointment this morning (yes I am admitting to needing help with my mental health), I thought about this even more. I wondered whether this fact would reaffirm to Mr Normal that I truly am a nutter.
For you see, judgy normal people will think like that. Especially when they are basing their assumptions on small snippets about you. At the end of the day, I am sure like me, most of us do not share EVERYTHING with EVERYONE. Even with those closest and dearest to us, we withhold selective information about ourselves. Rarely will anyone truly KNOW us in our entirety.
I also wonder why it is that being seen to be abnormal always comes with a negative connotation?
The Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad?
Alice : I'm afraid so. You're entirely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.
I love this quote from Alice in Wonderland where Alice tells the Mad Hatter the best people are bonkers.
I’m proud of who I am and what I have achieved. I am me and I am unique as we ALL are.
Mr Normal can get stuffed. I’m a proud paid up member of Team Bonkers!
Which team are you on, team bonkers or team normal? Don’t worry, I won’t bite if you disagree.
P.S - the photo above I took on my way home this morning. I loved this Owl like bird (I am no bird expert), sitting proudly on top of the cliff near my house, overlooking the stillness of Port Phillip Bay on what to me was a perfect morning.
