Alexis Senge JohnsonEvery day we are surrounded by outside opinions on how we should look, act, think and live our lives. It can be hard at times to remain our largest champion if we start letting the doubt sneak in. There’s no better time to stop, think about how remarkable you are and put a focus on knowing your worth right this second.
“Don’t let anyone rent a space in your head, unless they’re a good tenant.” Author unknown
When I was young I never fit in and I think that played a large part in turned me into who I am today. Up until the middle of third grad I lived in the same city and had only a few close friends that were very similar to me. Then everything changed. I moved to a new state, was submerged into schools where I was the minority and realized I stuck out like a sore thumb almost everywhere in life. That feeling continued into junior high, high school and later in college as well as at dance studios all across the east coast.
I started college classes when I was still in high school and being the youngest in the classroom wasn’t the only way I stuck out. After my junior and senior high school experiences were less than ideal, I was thrilled to leave and start college early but I quickly learned that there was no chance of me fitting in there either. I went from being considered a nerdy geek to being considered an idiot by my classmates almost overnight. I came to find that my age, friendly smile, and long blonde hair actually played against me with the other college students assuming that there mustn’t be much rattling around up in my brain.
Even then I had a choice to do something about it and recognize my self-worth. I knew I didn’t get to college early by chance, so I ditched the Malibu Barbie locks and quickly joined the dark side. I could have gone any shade of brown or even black, but I decided to make a statement and be bold. I went from a 18 year lifetime of blonde to red and never looked back. Suddenly, the jokes about being an airhead came to a halt. Classmates began listening to my comments and actually debating over thoughts with me all because a stinking hair color changed their perception. It seems ludicrous doesn’t it? I wasn’t a different person by any means, I just changed a physical trait to match what I’d known deep down all along. I was bold, daring, and not afraid to show others exactly what I had to offer the world.
Now, did I continue to stick out like a sore thumb? Abso-stinking-lutely, but I don’t mind being different and especially not if it’s for all the right reasons. I’ve always been different in school, the workforce, my leadership style and I’m okay with all of that. To this day I have only a small circle of friends but they are like family and I would do anything for them. I don’t doubt my skills, knowledge, talents or ability to lead others with fairness and compassion because I know what I had to go through to learn each of those and get to this point. Take the time today to block out the white noise of negativity and remember your worth. Then whatever you do, don’t ever forget it!
