So….since I always feel different to others in some way or another (apart from you lovely people on here ), I wondered what you all thought.
1. Do you like/cope with being seen as different because of any lifestyle choice you have chosen?
2. Do you sometimes wish you conformed better?
3. What makes you stronger as a person?
My answer would be…
1. Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Sometimes I look at others and feel their lives must be so much more uncomplicated but then I have my values and although they change with time, they make me who I am.
2. As above I suppose
3. Support from my lovely DH and family. I don’t think I could be such an individual without them (and of course my lovely children!)
1. Yes I like it I have to admit!
Sometimes I get a little fed up of the sceptical looks from people who ask about the children not being at school, but then I remind myself that I am spreading the word about Home Ed and that is a good thing that I really enjoy.
2. No not really, there is a lot that is conventional, like driving the car, etc but I love being a vegetarian, home edding, SAHM.
3. Not particularly giving a stuff what people think anymore, I find it amusing the few occasions that people have seemed taken aback by our Home edding.
Radha
I guess I’ve always felt a bit of an outsider from an early age, although sometimes more than others…
1 I don’t so much cope, but try to ignore the feeling of being ‘the’ outsider. Quite possibly it’s only my own insercerities, rather than pother people really thinking those thoughts. And it very much depends on with whom I am. It does get easier the older I get.
2 I suppose i sometimes conform, especially with people I don’t know well, like in the playground. Then I don’t always speak my mind, just let it go, as it doesn’t make a difference what I’m saying. They’re not really wanting to know anyway.
3 I feel stronger when I know I’m supported by my dh and children. When I discover new ways of living up to my ideals, however small.
1. I do like being different. I think most people I know think i’m crazy being veggie, eating foods they’ve never heard of (spirulina, cacoa etc), being totally chemical free, home edding my youngest, refusing to shop in high street stores and refusing to use conventional medicines (unless it’s completely necessary) but i’m very happy with the choices i’ve made. It’s just a shame I don’t have alot in common now with most of my friends.
Here are my thoughts, and a couple of famous quotes thrown in too
1. I’m happy with who I am and the choices I make in life. If people think I’m different that’s up to them, we’re all different, even if we are on a similar path in life.
2. (Conform to who/what?) I’‘m happy being who I am. The quote below comes to mind - “As to conforming outwardly, and living your own life inwardly, I have not a very high opinion of that course.” - Henry David Thoreau
“The reward for conformity is that everyone likes you but yourself.” Rita Mae Brown
3. A strong will to be who I want to be, and not concern myself with what other people think. And definately a good nights sleep as Aisling said .
Oscar Wilde once said - “One’s real life is so often the life that one does not lead”. He was so right, so be truthful to yourself and follow your path in life, be who you want to be and live the life you want to live - better than to to look back on your life when you are older and wish you’d done things differently.
I’ve got to an age now that I don’t bother with how other people view me and whether I’m similar to people I know or not. I try to now surround myself with people of similar lifestyle interests and of course coming on here - it all makes life far more interesting. I’m also getting very philosophical in my old(er) age (although in my head I think I’ll always be about 23! ).
1. Do you like/cope with being seen as different because of any lifestyle choice you have chosen?
I love being different, outwardly and inwardly, it’s no-ones business but my own but I like that I stand out for a variety of reasons
2. Do you sometimes wish you conformed better?
No, never, I don’t like what I see in some people’s lives of those who are supposedly conforming. I like the freedom my life gives me and would never compromise my views or morals for anything.
3. What makes you stronger as a person?
My husband as he is truly my soul mate, he shares my values and although we have very differing views on some things we both always have respect. Also my growing family and sleep would be nice too
1. Yes I love it, to me my life is normal so there’s nothing to ‘cope’ with other than what life throws at you
2. Absolutely not!
3. When I succeed at little things that create the bigger picture of my life (like managing to bake bread and treats instead of buy them, reduce my gas bill or do without washing up liquid for a week until I get to my nearest refill point instead of buying a new bottle just because it’s easy - I made my own, unfortunatly I didn’t get away with not washing up for a week he he) And of course my children, they are my ultimate teachers and companions
1. Do you like/cope with being seen as different because of any lifestyle choice you have chosen?
Yeah, I think there’s more of an extrovert in me than I realise, but more so a deep sense of satisfaction and joy that the life I lead suits me and after sooooooooooooo many years of feeling dissatisfied, I feel like I’ve found me.
2. Do you sometimes wish you conformed better?
I’ve always been “contrary”, according to my mother . So I don’t think it’s really in me, although, there have been many times in my life when I’ve wished I could conform and fit in better, but I don’t and when I’ve tried it’s never gone particularly well and slowly I revert back to form lol.
3. What makes you stronger as a person?
Being a mother. I’ve never felt more centred and grounded; there are still areas to refine, conquer and assimilate, but on the whole I feel stronger than ever..a nd actually, folks, you guys help with that too; just knowing there are so many other people who have similar values and attitudes helps a lot, nice to know I’m not alone lol.
I don’t know! I don’t see myself as being different, I just do things differently from a lot of people. But I don’t really care because I find my way a whole lot more fun
Having for most of my adult life chosen to have a “look” that doesnt conform to the norm, im pretty used to living slightly on the outskirts lets say…
(Having been pretty heavily tattooed and pierced-not so much now, for the last 20+ years)
But selling my house and moving onto the boat caused the biggest reaction so far.
I personally love to live like I do, but do get a little worn down by the predjudice and blinkered attitudes about and towards boater dwellers here.
Having Phelan exposed to that, does sometimes make me question my choices a little more.
But I have no desire to conform.. Just maybe do this somewhere less narrowminded!
I have support from, DH which helps, but find strength in looking back at how unhappy I was in the past when I wasnt true to myself…
1. Do you like/cope with being seen as different because of any lifestyle choice you have chosen?
I’m really lucky because I now have tons of local mum friends who are also “different” - so therefore I don’t see myself as being particularly alternative…until I start talking to “conventional” people of course! And my confidence about talking about topics like not vaccinating or using antibiotics, sending DS to a holistic school etc is growing all the time.
2. Do you sometimes wish you conformed better?
Sometimes, especially with family members (who still don’t know my views on things like vaccination - it’s too thorny an issue to even go there with some people!)
3. What makes you stronger as a person?
My local friends who give me so much support. The fact that DH shares many of my views. And knowing that I’m doing the best I can for my family. And this fantastic board is such a brilliant source of support - I rarely post due to time constraints but it really is very valuable.
I have to come back to this several times, as i wanted to be honest with myself! LOL when you read my response
1. Do you like/cope with being seen as different because of any lifestyle choice you have chosen?
I think what makes me different is i always wanted to, and still want to be ‘nice and honest’ (in nature and life), and i cope easily as long as i am not doing anything that tips the balance or hurts anyone (nature and people)
I feel though that people think i must be simple or not have an opinion, or not worth asking, and then when i express myself they get angry with me for misleading them in to a some false sense of security (their superior status -i’ve worked out!).
2. Do you sometimes wish you conformed better?
I had huge fallings out with friends and bullied at work because of ‘me being different’ and so i did things that most people would do and i was unhappy, so no i don’t - not anymore.
3. What makes you stronger as a person?
I am a mother, i have a child who i am responsible for and i want them to know you have to be strong to be ‘nice and honest’ - at last i feel strong and happy
1. Do you like/cope with being seen as different because of any lifestyle choice you have chosen?
I think as a family, and as an idividual, we cope very well with our lifestyle choices. I’ve always been regarded in my family as ‘a bit of a hippy’, so I don’t think any of it is unexpected. My fiance recently came out at work as Pagan, not that he was hiding it before, it just never came up in conversation! My job is a little different, I work with the sixth form of a very prestigious Catholic boarding school, so whilst I am a proud Pagan, I don’t flaunt it to the teenagers I work with, or to the people I work with.
2. Do you sometimes wish you conformed better?
Nope. I never really feel like I’ve completely conformed at any stage of my life, so why start now? :D
3. What makes you stronger as a person?
Knowing that I have the personal strength to stick to my guns, and the support of my lovely man in the decisions we make for our family.
), I wondered what you all thought.
).
