Sometimes our differences in politics (and life) can be big - so big that the differences themselves become actual issues. When this happens many people take sides… and either shout that stance to the world, or hide it behind a curtain. I honestly don’t know which of the two is more dangerous - mobs of anger or unspoken beliefs that run in an undercurrent, sweeping feet out from unsuspecting people who think they know the world better.
If you pick everything into tiny fragments and dissect all the pieces of what makes politics work - it comes down to people… and people are different. Like snowflakes - no two are the same, but somewhere along the way the world will try to convince us that it is better to be “same” than “different.”
It is the dreaded “normal.”
I do not believe for one second that striving for normal is what changes a country or people - or molds the political parties that bring progress. It’s only in the struggle for new, different and better - that some of us find change.
I remember when I found the Self Portrait Challenge website two years ago I was feeling really bad about myself because I didn’t fit into this specific category (without getting too personal) that society likes to place women. It didn’t work for me in highschool or college - I wish it did… but no.
A friend of mine suggested I reach out to a different group of bloggers in the artistic community, because there was a whole different thing going on that I might enjoy - specifically on this blog. I hesitantly posted my first self portrait and it sucked - but still, I felt so welcomed.
As my photography became more unique, more interesting and “holli-ish” - the better I felt about what I was doing. I felt a sense of community here - and it was so wonderful to feel good about being accepted for my differences, rather than my similarities.
I love this blog. I am so thankful it exists - it’s actually made a difference in my life.
When you focus on the differences as being strengths - people flourish. When you force everyone into a miserable cookie-cutter experience - and punish for “different.” Well, life is too short to not actually live it as… you
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It may seem too apropos that I chose Kristen’s picture the day I’m going to stay with her family for the weekend, but it would have been picked had I never known her name. I’ve always loved the quote at the top of her blog - and the image did exactly what my picks need to do… it wrote this post for me.
My darling girl, when are you going to realize that normal isn’t a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage.
~author unknown
Photo courtesy of Kristen at sticking to the point.
Until next week - Holli
