The Weird Ones Have it Figured Out.

   What is weird? I would say it is something different. I was kind of surprised by the actual definition. the first definition is "suggesting something supernatural". Let's just go with different. Through out history many "geniuses" have been pretty weird people. To be a genius or innovator obviously you have to stand out from the crowd and think differently. I am currently reading a book from a person who is leading the world in his industry, and most people would say he is a little weird. But that's ok because chiropractors are weird :). But he made me think of a class I took in college. It was in undergraduate, in Monterrey, California. I think the title of the class was "Critical Thinking". And the teacher was definitely weird. She was what you picture when you think of an old hippie. If I had to guess she probably went to college in Berkeley. And she would open the class the same way every time, we would have to go around the class and share something we were thankful for. There were no rules, it could be something small that just happened that day or week. Or something bigger. As you can imagine most of the kids made a joke out of it. Saying they were thankful for dumb stuff, or some refusing to participate. But it never phased this teacher, it never affected her smile as she went around the room so interested in what people had to say. 
   I'll be honest, at the time I thought the exercise was weird and a waste of time. I was wrong, she had it all figured it out. She made us start our day, at least the ones with her, with gratitude. Expressing or meditating on gratitude is such a powerful tool. It helps with things from stress and depression, to just keeping you focused on what's important and why you are here. Anyone who does things different is called weird, it takes courage to be weird. I'm sure there were times that this teacher might have felt intimidated by an unentertained student. Or wanted to give up and stop doing the exercise, but she kept with it. And look, I still remember it to this day. It obviously made a large impact on me. A lot of people are so scared to be different that they never truly express who they really are. Don't be afraid, be true to yourself. That is enough to be thankful for. On this Monday I challenge you to take a few minutes and meditate on gratitude. Think of the things you are truly grateful for. Visualize it, why are you thankful for it? What does it feel like? What does it make you feel like? It should put things in perspective.