“I used to think I was the strangest person in the world but then I thought there are so many people in the world, there must be someone just like me who feels bizarre and flawed in the same ways I do. I would imagine that she must be out there thinking of me too. Well, I hope that if you are out there and read this and know that, yes, it’s true I’m here, and I’m just as strange as you.” Frida Kahol
Frida’s quote explains everything perfectly — at least to all of us who grew up thinking we were strange.
And if the women I know best are examples, Frida’s feeling about being strange is pretty much a universal thing. It’s too bad that too many of us let decades go by before we appreciate our own special strangeness.
We’re too caught up in what others expect, or what other people will think if we do something strange, like hugging a tree or riding roller coasters when we’re 70. Yes, I do both.
I also think men have problems accepting their strangeness. After all “only sissies cry” and “real men don’t eat quiche.”
Why in the dookie have we allowed others to have so much power over us?
Frida used her strangeness to produce mind-bending art. .
Dr. Seuss, whose characters you must admit are a bit strange, embraced it with his unconventional stories and verse. He also understood how difficult it was for the rest of us to accept being different. Why else would he have wrote:
“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind … Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
I say we follow Dr. Seuss’ advice.
Bean’s Pat: http://morezennow.wordpress.com This is the blog on which I found Frida’s quote. It’s a blog that makes me think, and I love it when someone does that to me.
Great quotes by two incredible people. Thanks for sharing!
Yes, I agree about them being two incredible people. thanks for commenting.
Great quotes by Seuss 😉
You hit me where I needed hitting. Thanks. And I ride the roller coaster too and am making horse noises. I have the Seuss quotation posted. True. True. True. But I need reminding, and you have. I’m off to be true to the real me. ‘Scuse me, ME.
I’m sure you’re an awesome ME Trilla. I need constant reminding too. I’m a chameleon that can fit in any where. I used to think of it as a negative. I’ve just finally recognized that’s just part of who I am. This ME, as I’m sure we all are, are many things. I need reminders, too.
Today, yours is the blog that made ME think! I really really really like it!
in the strangeness is power…ever read the book, “Women Who Runs with the Wolves”?
“Women who run with wolves’ is on my wish list. i scanned through the book at a friend’s house and knew I wanted it. I’d have it already if it were on Kindle. My RV’s book shelf is tiny. Thanks for commenting PJ.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
I love the Frida quote. I forwarded your blog to my daughter who has been intererested in Frida Kahlo’s art.
I hope your daughter enjoys it. Thanks for dropping by Joyce.
Keep writing … Pat Bean https://patbean.wordpress.com
Oh, Pat, that was so nice of you to mention me! I’m really glad you love the quote. And Dr. Suess is a nice follow-up to Frida. His words are better than any shrink’s could ever be. 🙂 Have a great day…you sure made mine a superb one!
You’re quite welcome. I’ve only recently discovered your blog and am truly enjoying it. Thanks for the inspiration.
Loved this post. I can’t tell you the number of times over the years that I’ve said to people, “I realize ___ is probably strange, but it works for me.” I’ve said it about traveling alone, about my tendency to give away anything I don’t use, and a dozen other things. I don’t know if its a true embrace of my ME-ness, or a coping mechanism for when people actually do act like I’m weird, but either way I’ve been lucky to befriend lots of other people who don’t hide their weirdness either. It’s pretty good to know that if we’re strange at least we’re not strange alone!