Everyone has those moments when they want to blend in, they want to fit in with the crowd, they want to look like everybody else. Sometimes we just want to go with the flow. Other times we have those moments where we want to stand out, we want to be noticed. That is when we feel confident and feel good about ourselves.

But what is it like to stand out all the time? Even when you do not want to be noticed? That is what my entire life has been like. At times it is a good thing and other times it’s not so great. For example, when you do not want to get called on in class, but you stick out like a sore thumb, so your teacher continues to call on you even when you don’t know the answer and you didn’t even have your hand raised is not the best feeling. Sometimes you just feel like a complete idiot for not knowing the answer. There are times when it is good. When you are trying to get noticed and feeling confident, it is nice to stand out and get noticed by others.

I have long and extremely curly blonde hair. My hair is very unique, and you do not see this type of hair every day. It is a blessing and a curse. Yes, my hair makes me unique and I am grateful for it, however, it makes me stand out when I do not want to. I am extremely shy so when I do not want to be seen, I try to blend in, but that almost never works out. I feel like we all get that feeling when we do not want to be seen that everyone is staring at you, and when you do want to be seen, nobody notices. I feel like that a lot!

As I get older I have learned to embrace my uniqueness.

I have learned that I am different than everybody else and that is okay. Truth is everyone is unique in their own way. Everyone has talents and things that they are good at that other people are not. We are all unique in different ways and that’s what makes you, you. We all have features that we do not care for, that we would rather hide or change than flaunt. Those features may not be the ones you are proud of, but they are still a part of you and make you unique.

Learn to love yourself and your imperfections. Embrace what you do not care for, accept the things that you cannot change. If you learn to love yourself first, others will love you even more. Self-love leads to a healthier and happier life. Do not compare yourself to others because you are not them. You are your own person and unique in your own beautiful way. Embrace your imperfections and things that you do not love about yourself, you may not realize how many people love the things about you that you do not like yourself.