Do you like being different than everyone else?

Are you different from most of your friends or family members in some way?

Is there anything about you that goes against societal norms or expectations?

I am happy to say that some of my interests and personality traits go against the grain, so to speak. As a result, I sometimes find myself at odds with people when it comes to planning a night out or deciding whether to partake in certain activities.

Why would I be proud of this?

Because they make me who I am, and I am not ashamed of it. There can only be one you in this world, and there's no reason to apologize for having views or interests that don't align with those held by people around you.

Here are some ways in which I am a little different:

I am an introvert: While most people find a night of drinking and chatter with countless people to be fun, I'm happy staying home with a good book and blogging away. Too much social interaction depletes my energy reserves; I need time alone in a quiet environment to recharge my batteries. Studies show that roughly 75% of Americans fall under the "extrovert" umbrella.
While most sports lovers follow football, I am an avid baseball fan. Baseball is considered by most sports fiends to be the most dull of all the major sports.
No matter how much Hollywood and the media try to convince me that stick-figure-looking women are attractive, I beg to differ. I am all for the voluptuous kind. In fact, my wife is a few pounds overweight, as were the 3 or so girlfriends that came before her. More to love!
As I noted in an earlier post, I don't drink. It's not as if I haven't tried -- I just loathe the taste of alcohol. I also don't like the ruckus and foolish behavior of people who drink excessively.
My motto in life is: Keep it simple. As such, I try my best to keep my life as hassle-free as I can. That's why I opted to buy a condo rather than a house (cheaper and less maintenance involved) and why having kids may not be in the cards for me.
I don't waste words: Introspective and unassuming, I think carefully before I speak. I don't like talking just for the sake of it. I realize that most people aren't like this.
A handyman I am not: Who says that men have to like or be capable of fixing stuff? I'd much rather pay someone else to do it and make more time for things I actually like doing, like reading and writing.

In sum, I realize that some of my interests -- and my disdain for doing some things others deem enjoyable -- put me at odds with many people. That's precisely what I like about myself. I pride myself on being different from the herd.

Is there something about you that makes you unique from those in your social circle? Has it ever caused you to feel rejected or isolated?

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How To Understand People

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