Different…

What does it mean to be different?

My hair is pink today, green tomorrow. I wear torn jeans. I drive a big pick up truck with a smoke stack. I like my music loud. I only eat beef. I don’t eat meat. I wear tattoos. I have different piercings. I only wear black. I only read fiction. I am a mountain biker. I play a silver trumpet. I live in a tiny house.

All sorts of things differentiating people. While it’s easy to major on the external things that make us look different, I believe it’s the internal things that make the real difference. It is our personality, the way we talk to or about others, our voice tone, whether or not we show care for others; how we treat even ourselves. Are we outgoing or introverted? Do we respond to offense like everybody else – returning bad behavior for bad behavior?

People notice you’re different when you aren’t like the run of the mill, the rest of the pack. You do your own thing and are considerate, kind, helpful and watchful of others. You don’t participate in cutting someone else off or down. You are truly different. People notice these things about you and will see you as different in a good way.

Yes, it will anger some, because they see work being done in you that needs to be done in them. But you are an example to them. A hopeful example of what being different is all about.

Don’t be afraid to be different…in your own kind of way!