Everyone Is Normal
What makes something normal? A few months ago, I wrote about 9 lessons I learned in Jamaica and the last lesson, “everywhere is normal if you stay long enough”, has stuck with me more than the others.
Mostly it has me asking the question, “What is normal?”
The answers came through Jonathon.
After church one day he pulled me aside and said, “You know, I really like that part about everywhere being normal. I was thinking about it, and I realize that everyone is normal if you know them long enough.”
That sentence shook my world but made sense. Everyone is normal if you know them long enough.
Can Everyone Be Normal?
If you think about, normal doesn’t really mean anything. It is how we describe how comfortable we are in a situation. If everything is how we expect it to be, then it’s normal; if not then it feels weird.
If we know weird is a feeling, then it should change how we interact with weird people.
- Weird is temporary. If you stick around long enough everything becomes normal. So stick around.
- Weird expands perspective. Weird people see things differently than you. Spending time with them teaches you their perspective. A wider perspective will give you insight to help you better serve those around you and build your success.
- Weird builds influence. Hanging out with weird people and learning their perspective will give you influence over their lives. People will follow someone they see as a friend, if even if they don’t agree with them. They have connections you don’t, so spend time with them and gain an influence in their lives.
- Weird challenges. Spending time with weird people will challenge the thoughts and ideas you assumed were obvious. This is a good thing. If your ideas can’t stand up to push back they weren’t very good to begin with.
Embrace The Weird
No one has it all figured out – not Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, George Clooney, nor Barrack Obama. Everyone needs weird in their life to better understand this world. Stop dismissing people who are different with the excuse that they’re weird. Give yourself opportunities to embrace things outside the norm.
This is the beginning of thinking like an entrepreneur. This is the beginning of freedom. There is so much out there to explore, take the risk and be weird.
What makes you weird to other people?
Brandon (132)
Loren Pinilis (109)
Mike Luna (98)
ixnayonthetimmay (79)
Dustin (78)
moe (63)
Don Sartain (59)
Pastor Matt (36)
JeniferR (30)
Adam (20)
What makes you weird to other people?
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Hmmm. Actually, I’m relatively insipid and very black and white. I reckon if anything could be seen as me being “weird”, it would be my insistence on the Fatherhood of God and the Sonship of Jesus Christ as the whole of my theology and daily life.
People find this misogynistic, harsh, and too “Bible-thumperish” for their tastes. Meh. Whatever.
Haha, I think what makes you weird is your black and white outlook. American culture currently thrives on the idea that there is no right or wrong (your most recent post about pro-choice christianity and the push back you’re sure to receive is a great example of that).
I like your weirdness, Donald. It makes me rethink some things, reminds me constantly of the importance of my relationship with the Father and my Christian family. These are things I’ve long thought about, but your instance is a good reminder.
As they say, iron sharpens iron.
Thanks for commenting!
Great stuff! What makes me weird? I am very outgoing so I can talk to people I have never met before…
That’s a good way to be weird!
I think the fact that I am not a big talker. I observe and listen and talk when needed. It makes some people uncomfortable and even makes me think I do not like them. I like them I just do not have to always have something to say…
Also, some people think me blogging is weird. Oh well…
Quick to listen and slow to speak, brother. Nice.
What Donald said. Good stuff, it’s okay to be weirdly quiet. I imagine if I spent time with you and you were quiet it would be more of a “still waters run deep” sort of thing.
Maybe because I’m actually pretty reserved, especially when first meeting someone. Kinda takes me a while to get ‘warmed up’ I guess…
Same here bro!
I’m surprised by that! Your blog and your comments always made me think you were a pretty outgoing guy. I bet you’re less shy than you think you are!
I’m the same way. I get around good friends and am a huge cut-up. But with people I don’t know very well, I’m kinda standoff-ish.
Dude, you are weird!
I think what makes me weird is when I’m passionate about something, I speak with emotion, my body language gets involved and I run away with it. Yeah, that’s weird!
heck yeah, I am!
I bet it’s awesome to see you get passionate. Maybe a bit weird at first — it’s gotta be one of those things that draws people to you. Passion is contagious.
Here’s one thing about me that I think is really weird. And maybe you’ll soon understand this as an entrepreneur. I will grocery shop and pat myself on the back for saving 10 cents a pound by getting chicken on sale. Then I’ll go through business decisions where I lose hundreds of dollars, and I don’t bat an eyelash. It makes sense to me in a way, because I just make the best decision I can at the time. But it’s weird when you think about it.
Haha, I do the same thing!
I think you’re right, it’s the thought, “I’m making the best decision I have at the time.”
Then again, I work really really hard not to loose hundreds of dollars because of my business
lol.