The idea of a survival guide for misfits started when my kid came home from elementary school and asked if he was weird. Most of my friends fall into that category with unconventional interests and nontraditional jobs so it was a proud moment and I answered with a congratulatory, “Yes! And being weird is awesome!”
Then I realized that he might not be so sure being weird was awesome. I remembered my childhood and the desperate desire to fit in and my obvious failure to accomplish that task. Like a piñata stuffed full of anxiety and self-doubt awaiting that final hit, I tried and failed to not be different, second guessed myself about everything, wished upon whatever that I looked and acted and felt like a “normal” person. The radical part for a misfit is how that inability to conform ejects you onto a journey that can eventually land you in a place of gratitude for being all askew and outcast. That said, the journey isn’t going to be easy. There is a reason why people love conformity and the predictable security it offers.
But what the conformists have declared “wrong” with you can help guide you towards subcultures that celebrate so called imperfections. Misfit subcultures illuminate hidden strengths outside of conventionality as they encourage DIY solutions and a sense of discovery develops a dynamic approach to life. To map out this journey, I collaborated with an assortment of fellow outcasts, some of whom are now internationally celebrated for exactly what used to earn them abuse. Their personal stories and learned hacks will hopefully inspire people to recognize that while it might not be straightforward, being a misfit can be rewarding if you learn to embrace unconventionality, AKA, all the things that make you “weird.”
Here’s a list of books that might make feeling like a misfit a little less lonely.
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