Just because I do things differently, doesn’t make me wrong.

If I am weird or wrong for wanting to eat healthily, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for drinking lots of water and not a lot of booze, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for being fussy about what I eat, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for trying to be a positive influence for my children, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for bringing my children up differently from how I was bought up, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for making choices for a more sustainable life, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for buying goods that are expensive and of good quality rather than cheaper, inferior goods, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for refusing to buy single-use plastic goods, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for picking up litter, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not participating in gossip, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for encouraging words and acts of kindness, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not making assumptions about people and why they make certain decisions, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for having an opinion contrary to yours, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for feeling “too” much and being “too” sensitive, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for needing a break from people, even my loved ones, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for valuing time for myself, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for seeing opportunity when others see problems, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for choosing happiness over misery, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong because I do things differently to you, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not believing everything in mass media, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for questioning mass media, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for questioning doctors and medications, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for believing in homeopathic and alternative treatments, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not going to church, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not taking my children to church, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for believing in angels and guides, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for believing in spirituality over religion, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for having faith in humanity, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for calling God, Source, the Universe, Universal wisdom and believing that each of us has God within us, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for having tattoos, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for coloring my hair, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not being vegetarian or vegan, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for enjoying the odd alcoholic drink, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not believing in conspiracy theories, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not believing we should be wearing masks, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for trusting my immune system, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not buying into the fear created around COVID, then so be it.

If I am weird or wrong for not wanting to leave South Africa, then so be it.

Life is all about choices

A good life is also about respect. Respect for ourselves and our choices but also respect for others and their choices.

We all make different choices based on different experiences, different information, different cultures, etc. I try very hard not to judge others and their choices (I say try because let’s face it, I am human, and judgment is a part of our human experience) and I hope in turn that others won’t judge me. I know that believing that I am not being judged is rather naïve, but you know what I have also learned in life, is that someone else’s judgment of me is their stuff and not my stuff.

If I love you and I am concerned for you, I may question your choices, but it will be done with love, compassion and curiosity. My choices are not necessarily right for you because we are on different paths. So, what is right for me, isn’t necessarily right for you. 

If you don’t understand my choices, feel free to ask. I am always open to an informed discussion and I like to think that I am open-minded.

So, next time you catch yourself judging someone or their choices, stop for a moment and either ask, with love, compassion and curiosity, why they made that choice or quietly respect their choices.

no-one needs to feel weird or wrong or excluded

I, personally, have lived with the “weird” label for so long, it no longer bothers me.  In fact, I wear it as a badge of honor because it means I have been true to myself and to my reality.