To this day, two of my favorite questions asked by children have to be "Mommy, why don't I look like her?" Or, "Daddy, why can't I be like him?" Followed by, "Why am I so different? Our children today are growing up comparing themselves to everyone else, yet most often than not struggle with being okay with who they are.

We live in a society that tries to uphold everyone to a certain standard, where being different is like a death sentence. We have standards of beauty, standards of intelligence (so much so that we test on it). Yet what is the reason behind these standards?

Why do we try to hold ourselves to a place that many of us are unable to reach? Society places these standards on such a high pedestal that teaches us, almost from birth, that being different is wrong. They try to mold us into who they want us to be, they try to shape us into something unattainable.

Growing up in a world that holds us to such high standards, in a world that looks down on you if you break their mold. In a world of pink and blue, where girls should play with dolls, boys with cars. Like robots, they send us out into society to do as they wish. To work, make money, pay taxes day in and day out, and if you stray from that. You are abnormal.

Normal; do I hate that word. What exactly gives us the right to define what is normal and what isn't? In my opinion, normal was never meant to define people. It was meant to define cycles on a washing machine, or a dishwasher. Not for all people.

What is so wrong with being different? Humans aren't factory made models. We will never be exactly the same. Being different is what makes us who we are. That's why everyone is so special. Everyone has differences whether it be in their opinion, looks, personality, gender, or sexual orientation.

We are all different and THAT is what makes all similar. No stands, no molds. Beautiful uniqueness.

As so wonderfully stated by Dr. Seuss, " Why fit in, when you were born to stand out?"