Ever Been Called "Strange"

Jesika Hilton
Guest Blogger

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“Jesika, you are so strange.” – Grandma

When your own grandmother looks at you a couple of times a week in bewilderment and tells you how strange you are—you really know you’re living an authentic life.  To be clear, my grandma hasn’t always called me strange, she actually used to think I was normal.  One day she switched to calling me this endearing sentiment because suddenly one day I knew I could be more successful and happy in my career and my life by being strange.
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strange strānj/adjective

1. being FIERCELY, UNIQUELY, AND UNAPOLOGETICALLY YOURSELF in your career and your life

Our world is competitive.  One thing that’s hard to argue against, is that in a competitive word, those who are unique and are who they were designed to be, are the ones who really set themselves apart.  I don’t need to give you an example of the people I’m talking about, because likely whoever just popped into your head, is as strange as it gets.

I’m a 26-year-old female who graduated from Westminster with a marketing degree with curly blonde hair, freckles, and I work in sales.  What makes me strange?  I don’t hide the things about myself that make me who I am as a unique individual.  I very much so used to act in a way I thought I was supposed to and mimicked those around me because I thought that is what would bring me success.  The day I changed that is the day I was genuinely happy and far more successful in my career.

I could rattle off a list of what makes me strange (trust me, my grandma points out something new all the time), but the point is, all of those wonderfully weird things about you—be proud of them!  Is my desk fully decorated with Ryan Gosling, a picture of a pig in a crown that says overdress your way to the top and a vase with flowers I buy myself each week?  Absolutely.  Was I known as the girl who loves old people in college?  Check.  Do I actually admit out loud to my co-workers that I watch baseball because I love to watch people chew gum?  Heck YES I do.  It adds color to who I am.  My clients appreciate what makes me unique because it makes our business relationship authentic.  It makes it genuine.  The same goes for the relationships with my family and friends.

My point is, strange our not, celebrate those things that define you.  Although small, those things are what give you an edge in this competitive world.  Be authentic while everyone else is figuring out how to be like the person next to them. So write your list of what makes you strange, OWN THOSE THINGS, and remember they’re what make you so great.  
Now I’ll leave you with a quote from a fiercely unapologetic person you may know:

If you’re lucky enough to be different—don’t ever change.
– Taylor Swift