I have noticed over the years that some people seem to think I am weird. Not that I go out of my way to do things just because they are weird. I just do what works for me. But boy, "what works for me" sometimes sure does get a lot of comments.
These are the ways in which many people think I am weird:
1. I sleep on an air mattress, have for more than 15 years and wouldn't have anything else. I think they're very comfortable.
2. I wear toe shoes, or zero-drop shoes if I'm going somewhere I don't want comments on the toe shoes. Not as a fashion statement, but for comfort. "Normal" shoes are thicker at the heel than at the toe, which forces a heel-toe stride. I have always found that unnatural and I couldn't wait to get home and get my shoes off. When I got my first pair of toe shoes... well, that was the first time I had ever felt like dancing across a gravel driveway. But people think they are weird. If they don't comment about the toes they think it's weird that I walk with a stride as though I were barefoot. Well... that's the way my feet were designed to walk.
3. I like many different styles of music. All the music in my collection is christian, but from all across the genre board. This is weird compared to most people, who narrow down on one or two styles to the exclusion of everything else.
4. Although I like many styles of music, I don't like most of any style. About 70% of christian music - in ALL styles - is just put out to make a buck, sell an album, put on a show. The 30% that is anointed is worth digging for though.
5. I sleep in whatever clothes I was wearing that day. I see no reason to dirty up a pair of pajamas when I'm already wearing clothes. I don't know why this is weird, but it has also gathered a lot of comments.
6. If I'm in a hurry at work and don't have time to take a break, I will usually pop a can of (insert vegetable or soup here, green beans, kiddley beans (I said kiddley diddle I?), sweet peas, clam chowder, whatever) and eat a bite when I pass the break room. What? They cook it when they can it you know. But you would not believe the comments I've gotten because I don't dirty up a bowl to heat it up.
7. I like good quality food regardless of popularity, price or what is the accepted norm. I like chocolate, but can't stand hershey. I like cheese, but american cheese is a waste of chewing effort. I like food of all kinds, including brussels sprouts, asparagus, pan-fried chicken livers, etc, but can't stand fast food. This has raised a few eyebrows among my friends, all of whom think Hardees burgers are great.
8. I sometimes eat non-breakfast foods for breakfast, like lasagna or tuna fish. And if I want a scrambled egg for supper I'll scramble one. I don't know why this is weird, but I have gotten a lot of comments on it. I'll eat what I want when I want.
9. My shirts have a pocket in the shoulder, underneath the shirt. I keep my phone there. I gave a friend a bunch of shirts and she sewed the pockets in for me. It's the handiest thing I've ever found in textiles, because I can tie up most of my earbud cord, put the phone in my shoulder pocket and listen to music without that long cord hanging down. But a lot of people have given that weird looks too.
There are probably more weird things about me, but I can't think of any others right now.
See, I have gradually realized that once you get a little perspective about what is important, you stop caring so much about what the majority thinks and you are a lot more free to live your life the way you want. People may call you weird for some things, but life is too short to avoid some things just because a lot of people think it is weird. "Just because everybody does it doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." By the same token, just because most people don't do something doesn't mean it's not something I should try. Most people don't do almost all the things their doctors tell them after all...
So, how are you weird? Are there any things you prefer that those around you think are weird?
These are the ways in which many people think I am weird:
1. I sleep on an air mattress, have for more than 15 years and wouldn't have anything else. I think they're very comfortable.
2. I wear toe shoes, or zero-drop shoes if I'm going somewhere I don't want comments on the toe shoes. Not as a fashion statement, but for comfort. "Normal" shoes are thicker at the heel than at the toe, which forces a heel-toe stride. I have always found that unnatural and I couldn't wait to get home and get my shoes off. When I got my first pair of toe shoes... well, that was the first time I had ever felt like dancing across a gravel driveway. But people think they are weird. If they don't comment about the toes they think it's weird that I walk with a stride as though I were barefoot. Well... that's the way my feet were designed to walk.
3. I like many different styles of music. All the music in my collection is christian, but from all across the genre board. This is weird compared to most people, who narrow down on one or two styles to the exclusion of everything else.
4. Although I like many styles of music, I don't like most of any style. About 70% of christian music - in ALL styles - is just put out to make a buck, sell an album, put on a show. The 30% that is anointed is worth digging for though.
5. I sleep in whatever clothes I was wearing that day. I see no reason to dirty up a pair of pajamas when I'm already wearing clothes. I don't know why this is weird, but it has also gathered a lot of comments.
6. If I'm in a hurry at work and don't have time to take a break, I will usually pop a can of (insert vegetable or soup here, green beans, kiddley beans (I said kiddley diddle I?), sweet peas, clam chowder, whatever) and eat a bite when I pass the break room. What? They cook it when they can it you know. But you would not believe the comments I've gotten because I don't dirty up a bowl to heat it up.
7. I like good quality food regardless of popularity, price or what is the accepted norm. I like chocolate, but can't stand hershey. I like cheese, but american cheese is a waste of chewing effort. I like food of all kinds, including brussels sprouts, asparagus, pan-fried chicken livers, etc, but can't stand fast food. This has raised a few eyebrows among my friends, all of whom think Hardees burgers are great.
8. I sometimes eat non-breakfast foods for breakfast, like lasagna or tuna fish. And if I want a scrambled egg for supper I'll scramble one. I don't know why this is weird, but I have gotten a lot of comments on it. I'll eat what I want when I want.
9. My shirts have a pocket in the shoulder, underneath the shirt. I keep my phone there. I gave a friend a bunch of shirts and she sewed the pockets in for me. It's the handiest thing I've ever found in textiles, because I can tie up most of my earbud cord, put the phone in my shoulder pocket and listen to music without that long cord hanging down. But a lot of people have given that weird looks too.
There are probably more weird things about me, but I can't think of any others right now.
See, I have gradually realized that once you get a little perspective about what is important, you stop caring so much about what the majority thinks and you are a lot more free to live your life the way you want. People may call you weird for some things, but life is too short to avoid some things just because a lot of people think it is weird. "Just because everybody does it doesn't mean it's not incredibly stupid." By the same token, just because most people don't do something doesn't mean it's not something I should try. Most people don't do almost all the things their doctors tell them after all...
So, how are you weird? Are there any things you prefer that those around you think are weird?