Fitting in or Standing Out

"The most basic human desire is to feel like you belong.  Fitting in is important." – Simon Sinek

Remember the first time you wanted to fit in?  I imagine it was at birth.  As a baby, born with your own personality to two parents with their own personalities already in a relationship, each need you expressed let your parents know how you wanted to fit into their lives. 

Fast forward to school age, remember the feeling of going into a classroom and longing to fit in?  As we grow from youth to young adulthood, every year we started all over, learning to fit in again as we changed and molded who we wanted to be each year.  Is that when we start to think more about why fitting in isn’t as important of a need? 

"Fitting in is unnecessary.  Embrace who you are.  You will go through rough times in high school, but always stay strong, and never deny yourself!"  - Neon Hitch

Remember your first job?  Were you welcomed or did you have to figure out how to fit in?  Remember the first person who helped show you the ropes and helped you feel welcomed?  Depending upon what your role was or who hired you, maybe fitting in isn’t what they were expecting of you based upon your interview. 

Remember the moment you decided, “Heck with trying to fit in, I’m gonna do my own thing?” 

“People who cannot invent and reinvent themselves must be content with borrowed postures, secondhand ideas, fitting in instead of standing out.” – Warren Bennis

50 is a nice stage in life.  You’ve learned many ways to fit in and many ways to stand out.  You aren’t done learning and you’re not done making a difference in life.  Go ahead, discover your next opportunity to fit in or stand out! 

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your moments of standing out, you're not done yet discovering how you can continue making a difference in this world!