Growing up, all I have ever wanted to do was move people, and inspire those around me. I realized that in all of my attempts to inspire people that the most inspiring thing I ever did was be myself. Everyone tries to put on different faces to impress those around them, instead of just being the wonderful human being they were born to be. Each and every one of us was born with special gifts, why would you want to suppress them by pretending to be something a lot less special?

Those who are perceived as odd and strange, often times are people we should be envious of and aspire to be like. They don't give a hoot about what other people think, and live their lives as they please. I think we could all take a few notes, and start being true to who we are. We all get so caught up in posts on Facebook and tweets talking about goal relationships and goal lives, but if everyone had the same type of life we would all be average.

In high school, well actually my entire life, I always stuck to being me. Then, I came to college and wanted nothing more than to fit in and be like everyone else. I started dressing differently around who I wanted to like me. I realized the change when I went home around Halloween and I was wearing jeans and had done my hair and makeup just to carve pumpkins with my boyfriend. His little sister pointed out to me that I was dressed way differently than I had ever dressed before, and she missed my old style. If you know me, you know I have a very interesting and unique style that I can't even begin to explain. The change to my wardrobe only downgraded my level of special, and did not make me feel happier. I am telling you this so you know I am not perfect, and I know the urge to want to fit in. You should not lose yourself to be a part of the "cool" crowd though.

Something that reached out and practically smacked me in the face was a comment a girl made to me my senior year of high school. I was having a bunch of people over to hang out and play ping pong, and I decided to ask this girl in my class if she wanted to come. Her face lit up and she told me she could not believe she was going to get to come hang out with me. I was humbled in that moment. I had always thought I was strange and nothing special. The girl I asked always seemed so confident and sure of herself, but this goes to show that maybe we shouldn't try to be like others because we are all made special. She wanted to be like me and I wanted to be like her. If we all want to be like each other, wouldn't we all end up exactly the same? And how boring of a life would that be? Life is way to short to not be exactly who you were meant to be. Live life in your own skin, and do it courageously.