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?

Do you have Isolophilia? Find out...

You're probably asking yourself, "What in the world does Isolophilia mean?" It sounds like it would be something negative, doesn't it? After all, words that end in "philia" (e.g., pedophilia) tend to involve things we want nothing to do with. But Isolophilia isn't something all people deplore. In fact, introverts like me welcome it. Put simply, Isolophilia is defined as having a strong affinity for solitude. It describes a person who relishes being alone. While extroverts can only take so much solitude, we introverts find that it rejuvenates us. In order to recharge our batteries, we need to retreat to a quiet environment where we we're left alone to rest and/or gather our thoughts. Extroverts, on the other hand, become bored and drained when they're alone for a lengthy period of time. Social interaction is the fuel that drives them. So while an extrovert would probably do anything to avoid feelings of Isolophilia in most cases, an...

No response from someone IS a response

Make no mistake about it: When you don't get a response from someone -- whether they fail to answer your texts or return your phone calls -- it is still a response, and a powerful one at that. When a person fails to respond, it's a direct reflection of their interest -- or lack thereof -- in the relationship. Few things are more aggravating than having to hound a partner, friend, or relative for some sort of reply after we've reached out to them. Yes, we get busy from time to time, but that doesn't give anyone the right to leave the other person hanging. A terse text with something like "Been busy, will reach out soon" doesn't say much, but at least it shows some effort to bring the other person up to speed on why they've fallen off the radar. Failing to provide a response for weeks -- if not months -- communicates that you are just not a priority, and that you'll have to wait your turn to get this individual's attention. This is n...

The 1 good thing cheaters do for us

Nothing good could come of a relationship marred by infidelity, right? The heartache, the shock, the feeling of one's trust being violated. In the short-term, being cheated on can turn one's world upside down. But eventually, there may be a light awaiting the cheated at the end of the tunnel. If you really think about it, cheaters end up doing us a huge favor. In their selfishness and disloyalty, they end up showing us that we deserve better. If you're so unfortunate as to be a victim of such acts of betrayal, you can only hope the cheater is considerate enough to own up to their missteps. But we all know full well that, in many cases, the cheater is either caught in the act or leaves behind a trail of hints that ultimately culminates in their undoing. The more classy thing to do is to discuss their feelings openly with their partner before straying. If all talks lead to an impasse or a further escalation of tensions, both parties should take it as a ...

Search This Blog