Many people are leery of being too different from other people because they fear they won't be able to relate to them. In the worst cases, some even fear social isolation.
Being a huge bibliophile, history geek, and psychology lover sets me apart in that most people don't delve into these things for leisure and personal fulfillment. They see it merely as work -- something that has no place outside of a corporate or college setting.
I love to hit up museums and historic sites while on vacation. Most people would derisively call that a field trip, not a vacation, and proceed to sunbathe on a picturesque island somewhere.
The fact that I have such a strong proclivity for learning and ideas doesn't make me any better or worse than the next person. It just means that I'm probably more intellectually curious than most individuals I come across.
In general, people are inclined to conserve as much brainpower as possible. My social psychology professor put it succinctly: Most people are cognitive misers.
One of my main goals in life is to learn as much as I possibly can before I die. Little brings me as much fulfillment as learning something new that I can in turn pass on to others, whether through my writing or in casual conversation.
Is learning as much as they can atop other people's bucket lists? Probably not. None of my friends (with exception to maybe one) like reading and writing for fun.
Hardly anyone in my social circle has ever set foot in a museum, and those who have admit they spend no more than an hour in them. I, on the other hand, aim to read every description for every artifact on display!
In sum, I've realized that while most people are drawn to doing things with others -- people-oriented activities -- I am stimulated more by ideas, theories, and concepts. That makes me unique, different, a rare breed.
People can criticize me all they want, but I wouldn't change myself for the world. And neither should you. Let us embrace our uniqueness!
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