In Praise Of Eccentricity

I am an eccentric. Yes, I admit it. In fact, I love that my friends consider me unique, if a little different at times. And I have to say that most celebrate that trait about me.
A definition of eccentric : a person with an unusual or odd personality
bizarre: conspicuously or grossly unconventional or unusual;
character: a person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities); "a real character"; "a strange character"; "a friendly eccentric"; "the capable type"; "a mental case"
not having a common center; not concentric; "eccentric circles"

Being an eccentric, I love the unusual, the different or the extreme. And I love other eccentrics as well. It's as though we speak the same language and we celebrate each other's eccentricities
and character. I'm not sure if I was born eccentric or just became one but I am definitely not of the norm. And I've come to learn that a lot of people who suffer from Bipolar Disorder are considered eccentric to their families and friends as well.

My son Joshuea is a perfect example of an eccentric. As a child, he had very few friends and most children considered him odd. The fact that he had a genius IQ didn't help. In fact, it hurt.
He wasn't into sports or school activities. He read...a lot. And what he read, he remembered.
And it wasn't just that. He read everything he could get his hands on. When he was sixteen, he asked for a Fender Stratacaster guitar for Christmas and then proceeded to teach himself to play guitar by ear and to play so well, it became clear he was musically gifted. When he turned seventeen, suddenly he had a huge following of friends who considered him a guru of sorts. They came to him for answers to their problems, they asked his advice and deferred to his judgment. And they celebrated his uniqueness. And it seemed that overnight, he not only belonged, he was cherished. The years of being an outsider were gone. He became an amazing musician and formed a band and began to play clubs. He also began to write screenplays.

And even though I am blessed enough in my life to have family and friends who celebrate the unique and quirky person that I am, I know that there are other eccentrics in the world who are not lucky enough to have someone in their life to not only accept them just as they are but relish the uniqueness of their character. And that, to me is very sad. Because most, if not all eccentrics are brilliant and gifted as well as very creative and artistic. Some are wonderful poets and writers, some are musicians, others are artists. There are eccentrics in the field of medicine, science and yes, even politics.

Some eccentrics have made a major impact on the world because of their unique ability and bravery to step outside the box and view the world with a different eye. Examples such as Einstein, Dr. Patch Adams, John Lennon as well as Sigmund Freud. And they have done it because of the strength of their belief in themselves and their convictions and worried not a whit about who it offended or what people said. All because of who they were. Because they were eccentric. Because they were unique...

So I say raise your glass, bong or pipe to the eccentric. Celebrate being unique, quirky and different. And if your an eccentric, I say Welcome, My Friend to a Very Elite Club. The Club of Eccentricity. Cherish yourself and the other eccentrics in your life because you will be the ones that can and will change the world...

Until Next Time, My Dear Friends...

Love and Light To You All,
LadiofZen