Embrace Your Weirdness

For all of you who’ve ever felt like the weird outsider for your creative, spiritual gifts: 

When my son was younger, we went into a store in San Francisco and bought him a mask that looked like something out of the Mad Max movie. It was so creepy – and he proceeded to walk through San Francisco for the rest of the day with it on his face.

I was struggling.  I kept thinking, “This is so weird.”  I felt afraid that we would be rejected and I worried that he was hiding. 

Suddenly, in a very public place, he asked us to video him dancing and beatboxing with the mask on.  I felt a shift inside.  Hmmmm.  He’s being *very* creative.  This is a *really* cool backdrop for his video.  I can’t *believe* my shy son is doing this!

We went into another store and a salesman said to him: “I like your mask!”  When I was at the register he said to me, “Oh wow, that’s your son?  I dig that mask.  It’s weird, but it’s cool!  You know?”

When my son joined us at the register the salesman said, “Keep it up, buddy!  Keep wearing your mask and doing your thing!”

And I knew that he was one of my angels, sent to hold us in light and love while being our true selves.

I felt reunited with my own Authentic Self.  I mean, Hello!  For years we’ve been in an artist community that by many people’s standards is fringe-y and weird.  

That day we filmed my son in as many cool locations as possible.  But now as I watched him, I saw a boy Claiming his Voice.  He wasn’t hiding – he was feeling free.  

I got the message:  All I have to do is support my son to be Authentic, and help him recognize when and where he gets the response that he deserves.

Be who we are and surround ourselves with people who celebrate our authenticity.