By Jennifer Madrigal

Dr. Seuss said it best when he said, “We’re all a little weird, and life’s a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” Being different or looking at things in a different way isn’t always bad; in fact it’s very often refreshing. In a world where everyone strives to be the “winner” or the best at everything, the ones who are weird tend to stick out and you know what? That’s okay. It’s alright to be different and unique. In fact, it’s inspiring when someone isn’t like everyone else and instead has qualities that make them stand out.

First and foremost, in anything you do, be confident about it. Own it, be it, embody it and make it your own. Being weird is no exception to this rule. Be the delightfully chaotic individual that you are and stand out in a crowd. Let people talk about you, whisper behind your back and think whatever they want. You know the truth anyway, and that is really all that matters.

I have had this exact conversation frequently with my boys. Usually it begins with, “He said I was stupid!” And my response is always, “Well, are you stupid? “ The point of this being, who cares what people say? You know what you are and what you are not. If another person says you are purple, does that make it so? Who cares what people say about your hair or how you look or even how you act? You know the truth. In fact, you should know this better than anyone else. When you don’t respond to another’s negativity or false accusations, you take away their power to put their definitions on you.

Let others call you what they will. Be weird, be different, but most of all, be you; because at the end of the day, the people who are unapologetically themselves, and who stand out from others in their unique weirdness, are usually the ones that we all remember.