I can't dance, but I still do every time my happiness is just too much to sit still.
When people ask me “What are you doing??” most of the time I say “You know, I’m not quite sure?” but to be honest that’s the best part! I just keep dancing or jumping or singing. It can be described as “odd," strange", or “weird,” but if the only sure fire way to stand out was to be weird… why wouldn’t you? Think of it this way, if someone is paying THAT much attention to you and what you are doing then they are either your best friends, jealous, or insecure. If they talk about you, that says heaps more about them than it does you. Once you stop caring what you look like, you’ll end up looking like you’re having fun.
It took me a very long time to come to this realization. It was very on and off. In high school I had grasped the concept, but still always felt out of place, and I realize now it’s because I was out of place. It wasn’t until I moved away for college and met my “friends for life” that I finally figured out what all this meant. So if you’re having trouble just know it does work out! You just need to move into that point in life where you are so comfortable that you couldn’t care less.
First of all: if you don’t do what makes you happy because a boy you like will think its “stupid” or “weird” than that boy is not the one for you. Because if you’re hiding a part of yourself from someone it only makes it worse in the long run. And who knows, maybe he thinks it’s really cool and it’s something you’ll have in common and bring you closer, but now you’ll never know? So take the chance. Secondly, if you’re thinking “I can’t do that, I’ll look stupid,” is it because you don’t want people to think you’re weird, or are you uncomfortable? If you are uncomfortable than do what’s best for you, because sometimes things feel abnormal and things don’t feel right. But if you’re worried about what other people think about you, don’t. Most of the time you think people are looking at you and thinking, “Do you see this girl/dude? Who do they think they are?” they’re actually thinking “She/he looks like they’re having fun.” And if they are thinking the first, then it’s them who has the problem, not you.
Think about it this way. Would you rather have fun and experience something and make a ton of wonderful memories, or would you rather sit and watch these people make those memories without you and then talk about them in front of you for the rest of your life? And it sounded so fun, but you didn’t do it for fear of looking peculiar.
I was blessed with those people who pull you to the dance floor and make it easy for you to forget about all the people around. I got extremely lucky with the people who tell me that it’s okay to wear sweatpants for a whole week, or that it’s okay to get a second brownie. Having amazing friends who encourage and help you makes this task much easier. You have to find these people who have staying power who aren’t here for the “good times”, but the bad times too.
So go ahead and wear those pj’s to class. Dye your hair, why not?! Dance the way you want to. Eat what you want to. Do what you like. Display all of your happiness despite those trying to take it from you. Be who you want to be without the fear of “not fitting in” getting in the way. Because if you aren’t fitting in it’s because you’re standing out.
