Friday, April 29, 2011

Individuality And Comparison

I owe my inspiration for this post to my blogging buddy and fellow-Pennsylvanian, Matty. Wednesday, he shared a brilliantly charming post on some wise advice he gave to his young son.

At the end of the post, he asked his readers….

“What advice would you give to yourself for those elementary school years?

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As a young child, I was very influenced by my comparison to other kids.

I compared myself to their intelligence, looks and talents.

I was extremely insecure; looking to fit in.

I spent years wishing I could be more like some of the kids I went to school with and longing to be someone other than myself.

Our elementary school years can be a very challenging time for a lot of us. Not only because we’re so young and impressionable, but also because we’re placed in a situation of blanketed learning. And if we don’t meet the criteria, we often feel less accomplished and left out.

I was never a school smart kid. I seem to learn more by investigating and doing. I follow my instincts.

I was also never good at sports because I had no interest in them, therefore I was in a league of my own.

I was more the creative type; writing poetry, making my own greeting cards, and pretending I had magical powers like Samantha Stephens on Bewitched. Back when I attended elementary school, creativity was something that was never nurtured or considered anything of real valuable.

I can’t say that I was an unattractive kid, but I was smaller in stature than most boys my age. I was also very shy and timid. I was one of those kids who gradually grew into my looks and personality.

Kind of like a flower seed under the ground; blooming later in life.

I don’t think it was until I got into my late teens, did I even begin to notice and appreciate myself. As soon as I was given the outlets to express my love for the arts through acting and writing, it unleashed my soul. And not only did it tap into my creative energy, but ironically it also made me a better student scholastically.

I remember when day when one of my family members who hadn’t seen me in many years was over for dinner. I must have been around 19 years old at the time and was talking up a storm; expressing myself with grand gestures and vocal freedom. She suddenly looked at me and said, “Oh dear heavens….where did this Ronnie come from? It’s like you’re a totally different person than how I remember when you were a shy little boy.”

It was then that I realized I was starting to bloom. Coming into my own. I could feel it.

I was beginning the journey to embracing my own self; celebrating my individuality.

Luckily, I was blessed with parents who supported my creative desires; allowing me to follow my heart and be myself.

Thank you, parents!

So, in going back to Matty’s great question on his blog post, I think the best advice I’d give myself for those elementary school years would be this….

To embrace my individuality and not compare myself to others.

Yet, even if I had given myself that advice back then, do you think I would have really understood what that meant?

No.

Because I had to discover it through blooming.

Wishing you an individuality weekend everyone!

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