Be Proud To Stand Out | Just Add Ginger

How many of you look back on your childhood with fond memories? If you could go back and live that time again to change the person you become, would you?

When I was a child, life seemed so simple. I was surrounded by people who loved me and cared about me, and took me for exactly the person I was. No conditions, no clauses, no limits on our friendships. They just were completely and 100% honest friendships. Sweet. Innocent. They filled my childhood with joy. 

Then I grew up. 

And growing up wasn't easy in the slightest. As I made my way through secondary school it became abundantly clear that if there was even just 1% of you that stood out from "the norm," then certain people would use that and point it out to you all the time, like you weren't aware of it yourself. And there were some very unaccepting people that I knew in secondary school. Now, as a grown woman, I wouldn't hesitate to give them a piece of my mind. But back then, as a desperately unconfident teenager, most of the time I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. 

Fir those of you who don't know me that well, or may have clicked on to my blog for the first time, I was born with a condition called "hemi-paresis," which affects the left side of my body. Basically it means that my left arm and leg are a lot stiffer than the right, and I have limited movements sometimes, particularly in my left hand. It's a condition that I entered and will leave this Earth with. It is something that I cannot change, and would not ever want to.

Sometimes, it can be so easy to shy away from sowing our true colours, or embracing the person that we are. We become afraid of what others might think, and scared to show the world the person we are deep down. But let me tell you something. You may be afraid of what others might think of you, but remember... Those people who might make you feel like that are probably just as terrified on the inside to show their true colours too. 

I used to get gawked at in secondary school for my disability. I used to hear the secret snickers, and sense the stares. And I bet today that if I were to see those people in school, they wouldn't remember doing it, and if they did, would be so ashamed if I told them. At the time I was so hurt by the actions of those people, but it has spurred me on now I'm older and it has helped make me so strong today. I don't let anybody bring me down, If there is any message or help I can give to others who may need it, I'm going to get it out there and show that where there is a will, there is always a way.

All of us are different and special in our own way, And you might not always see yourself as special, but there will be something that makes you unique. You may be academic, creative, musical, or fiercely independent. You may have wonderfully-coloured hair, freckles, wear glasses, have your own style.....all of these things help to make you you, and we all need to take a little time to celebrate how amazing we are.

Don't spend your time trying to fit in with other people. Find friends who have a similar style or personality to yours who accept you for who you are and who you don't need to "wear a mask" around. Once you find friends who make you feel comfortable in your own skin you'll look back and wonder why the hell you bothered with others who put you down. It may take a while, but try looking in to extra activities that sing to your interests. That's a good way to seek out like-minded people, and will help start to build your confidence and belief in yourself.

We need to take all of the things about us that make us unique and embrace them. We are not all created with the same mould. We were born to stand out from each other and we should be proud that we do. If we were all exactly the same the world would be a very boring place. Each of us being here and being who we are makes the world so beautiful, exciting and interesting! Why should we want to fit into the same category of human being? Being unique ROCKS!

Life isn't always a smooth road, and you will find people out there who you don't bond with. And that's okay. Not everybody will get along with each other. It's the nature of life. But you can be cordial to each other, and be happy that your paths crossed and now you are off on your own journey. It doesn't mean that you should stop being who you are. We are all individuals swimming in the bog pool of life together. We cross paths, meet each other, some of us will become friends, some of us won't, but without us being unique, special and different, that pool just wouldn't be the same.

Please don't ever be afraid to be exactly who you are. There is only ever going to be one you out there, so head out on to your path through life, and shine. Bumps, snags and hiccups may happen along the way, but you will get through them, and when you come out the other side, you'll be more powerful than ever!

With positivity, love & hope,