Dare to be DIFFERENT

Dare to be Different 
My whole life I have took the stance and dared to be different from those around me. Even though my difference is more obvious than others, we all are different in our own way. Although often it is a challenge to take this dare.  
In school for some reason we believe it matters what others think of us, we think if the people around us don’t like us then nobody ever will. You want to have the cool brands of clothing, guys care way to much about their shoe and sock game, and girls go on diets to get the so called "perfect" body figure like the Instagram models they see as their scroll through their social feeds everyday. Kids at school tease us, for being "fat", too skinny, growing up in a broken home, or being even slightly different from everyone around us. We believe we are not good enough, strong enough, pretty enough. If we look too “different”, too weird, we cannot do this and we can’t do that. I am telling you right now stop telling yourself this. Those bullies at school, in your head, at home can’t define you! Only you get to decide that.  
We all fall down sometimes, but we must learn how to get back up. Do not put on a mask for school, you do not need to. We all have moments when we ask why me? We lay in bed and cry because of doubt, fear, worries, and broken homes. These obstacles in life are part of our story, there is a reason and purpose why we go through them. We must try our best to find strength in ourselves, and overcome the obstacles that are put into our lives. To stop concentrating on the things we do not have, or wish we had, and accept the gifts God has blessed us with. When you ask yourself who am I? You are the only one that can answer that question, and know that it may not get answered right away, it takes time to fully understand who you are. No matter what you are going through you can get through it, find confidence in yourself. Finding confidence in who you are is key to daring to be different. We all have quirks, flaws, differences, it is a part of each of our lives; although learn to love yourself. Once you accept your differences and love them you no longer will want to be like everyone else, you will learn that being yourself is the best person you can be.  
We are all created different in some way or form. Some people’s differences are just more obvious than others, such as mine. We must take a stand and dare to be different, to show the world that being different is amazing, and beautiful. Tell society that they are wrong, we need to break down the walls of perfection, letting others know that it does not exist. No matter what your situation is, one arm, one leg, a broken home, depression, anorexia, anxiety, fear of failure, we have the power to turn what could be a negative situation into a positive situation.  
I stand before you today as living proof that something perceived as different, negative, can be changed into something positive, something beautiful, a blessing in my own life and others. I am living proof that if there is a will there is always a way, with determination and practice, hard work and sometimes failure. In life you will either find a way or find an excuse. Accept yourself as you are, God created you with his own hands, for a plan, and a purpose.  
Dare to be different. Dare to love yourself as you are. Dare to love your differences, your flaws. Dare to be imperfectly you.