Different is a choice

“Ain’t no man can avoid being born average, but there ain’t no man got to be common,” goes a quote from Satchel Paige. It’s useful and energizing not only because of Satchel’s incredible story, but also because it reminds us that being common is a choice. Questlove writes in Creative Quest, “Once you start making things, once you take that leap, you have the same status as any other artist. I’m not saying that you’re as good. I’m not saying that you’re as important. But all of a sudden it’s a difference of degree rather than a difference of kind.” Being different is like that too. When you let go of trying to fit in with everyone else, and embrace your own innate, unique, inclinations, you’ll have joined the rest of us in the club. Bill Watterson says, “To invent your own life’s meaning is not easy, but it’s still allowed, and I think you’ll be happier for the trouble.” It’s a difference in degree that you’ll need to renew through work (not in the sense of labour or employment, but…