Written by Calea Bakke
I have always considered myself a strange person. You may see the self-understanding as sad or even absurd, but I find a lot of comfort in the description. It’s like a calm, cool relief that gushes over me and whispers, “It’s OK, Calea, you haven’t stopped being yourself.”
But sometimes my personal oddities display themselves at less than opportune moments.
On one such occasion, after a particularly awkward happenstance in the student center, I asked my friend, jokingly of course, if I was socially awkward. She paused. “No,” she said slowly and deliberately, “you’re just … quirky.”
The plethora of common knowledge known as Urban Dictionary says that quirky is “something that is strange/not normal but cool.” I can live with that.
See, I don’t care much for boring people. (So, no worries, if you’re my friends, I probably don’t think you’re boring. Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t think I know anyone who would qualify as boring.) I love deep and dynamic people. I lovepeople who like to learn and grow and inspire me to do the same. People who aren’t afraid to be themselves and pursue their passions are like bursts of bright, wonderful joy in my soul.
Life is quirky, but that’s why it’s so beautiful. I delight in the uniqueness of God’s creation. Whether it’s the laugh of an individual or the particular color palette of a sunset, it always makes me smile. As you can imagine, I end up smiling a lot. I’m pretty sure that’s supposed to be healthy for you.
I also enjoy the application of quirkiness. Sometimes my quirkiness has a mind of its own and appears unforeseen and uninvited, but I also try to be intentional about it.
One of the most enriching andfun experiences I’ve had in college has been getting to know myself. Once you get better acquainted with how you act in certain situations, what you love to do and how you see yourself, you can fully dedicate yourself to the application of your quirks for the good of humanity. So pay attention. A little introspection is good for you, just like smiling.
Use your quirkiness to brighten someone’s day, make him or her feel included, or turn the conversation away from a detrimental discussion. The trick, my friends, is balance.
Let me make a short, stern qualification: Creating a humorous situation is an art. Making people feel uncomfortable because you don’t understand social cues is unfortunate. I personally believe you should only stretch socially acceptable boundaries when you normally respect them and the people around you. Now, moving on.
When friends tell me about their quirks, usually with their heads hung and that slightly embarrassed smile, I usually exclaim something along the lines of “What do you meanyou like to grow bonsai trees?!” or “Whoa! You can play “Mumford and Sons” on the recorder! That’s awesome!”
You are who you are for a reason. My wisest and most dynamic friends are the ones who have walked through the fire and chosen to overcome it. If you take responsibility for your own life and decisions, you will live more fully.
So when I sing to myself, make overly animated facial expressions, talk to movies, yell at people across campus and strike up conversations with people I’ve never met, I’m having a lot more fun being myself than I would be if I tried to fit the box of what our culture calls “normality.”
Embrace your inner quirks. To me, quirky people add color to the world. If all leaves were the same, they wouldn’t be so amazing.
Be yourself; life becomes so much more fun.
