Do you ever just feel weird? I don't mean that flutter in your gut that heralds indigestion; I'm talking about your state of being as a person. Do you ever think you're the oddball in the crowd? If so, you might appreciate this sketch that wandered across my Facebook feed the other day:Obviously, this artwork is talking about caffeine and the fact that some of us drink way too much of it for our own good (stop looking at me like that!). But around the Sanctuary offices many of us agreed that it also brought up old memories of feeling weird and isolated. You see, we're pretty much a nerd crew over here, and as such, we know first-hand what it's like to feel like you're the only one of your kind. And don't we all feel that way sometimes, self-proclaimed nerds or not?Often times, the more we live our lives and get to know ourselves on levels physical, spiritual, and social, the more things we can list that make us "weirder and harder to relate to:" specific hobbies or interests, mental and physical illnesses, sexual orientation or gender identity, careers and chosen life paths, struggles and desires, trauma or loss, religion and politics. The more these pile up, the more it's tempting to hide them so we can just fit in. And while this pattern of hiding our "quirks" can help us sort-of-maybe-kinda get along with others in everyday life, it can also leave us feeling lonely. 

The irony is that it's not until we begin accepting and letting out our weirdnesses that we can truly begin to find people we can relate to on a deeper level -- people who are like us.

 Another way to phrase that?"That which does not kill me only makes me more interesting and visible to my tribe."You are welcome here.