03/21/2025
Embracing My Inner Black Sheep
I’ve always been the black sheep in the family—the one who marches to the beat of my own drum, sings out loud, dances when I feel like it, and speaks my mind. The oddball. A bit off-center. A bit unconventional. Not particularly traditional. But I enjoy being comfortable in my own skin, whether I’m alone or surrounded by people. And you know what? To me, that’s FREEDOM.
The truth is, someone will ALWAYS have an opinion about who you are and what you do. But as adults, we get to DECIDE how much weight we give to those opinions. Other people’s feelings are as real as ours, but that doesn’t mean we have to shape-shift to meet their expectations. Most of us want others to be a certain way—just as others want us to fit into their mold.
Look at the pushback people get for their political, religious, and lifestyle choices. At the root of it all? JUDGMENT. Here’s a little secret: when people disengage from someone, it’s often because of judgment—spoken or unspoken. And judgment isn’t going anywhere.
But here’s where things shift: when you stop judging YOURSELF based on other people’s judgments, that’s when you truly start living more comfortably in your own skin. I’m not saying it’s easy, but it’s the TRUTH. That’s when you feel comfortable enough to be YOU—and to let others be THEM.
So be the black sheep. March to your own beat. Be loud, be quiet, be bold, be soft—be YOU. The world will adjust, and in the process, you’ll find YOUR PEOPLE.