The Exception to the Rule

"How glorious it is, and also how painful, to be an exception." Alfred de Musset

She posted her eighth grade school picture on Facebook. It was adorable in a funny way. Her hair is somewhere between curly and frizzy, her bangs are larger than life, and her eyebrows are...well, formidable I guess is the best word to describe them. It was 1987, and what looks so odd now was cutting-edge back then. Do you remember those days in your own life? Early adolescence is where the peer group becomes of utmost importance. Fitting in, having the right clothes and the right hairstyle, is crucial. And that is all very normal, a part of growing up and figuring out who you really are. Being different can be very painful at that age.

However, as we grow and mature and become more comfortable in our own skin, we adults should develop an individuality about us. Notice I use the word "should" because I think we all know adults who are still following the crowd, who are afraid to just be who they are.

The people who truly make a difference in this world are the exceptional people. To be exceptional, is by definition, to be an exception. These folks are not afraid to go against the tide of popular opinion. They think for themselves. They are individuals. They are sometimes misunderstood, and they lose some friends along the way. It can be painful to be different, not just at 13 but at 33 or 63. It's easier to take the path of least resistance, to go along to get along, but at what cost? Live to please and appease others, and you give away precious pieces of yourself until there's nothing left.

Susan