If I could sum up
your life in three words,
it would be these:
You want attention.
You want to set yourself apart
from everyone else and be seen as special.
You don’t yet realize
that you’re special
whether you get attention or not.
You actually believe
that you have to claw and fight
your way to attention
and that you’re a failure
if you remain unnoticed.
This may be true.
You may be a failure.
But you are still special.
Newfound Lake,
9/5
Folks, let’s get one thing straight: life isn’t a reality TV show. There’s no grand prize for being the most noticed or liked, no final rose ceremony where you either win love or get booted off the island of societal acceptance.
What is it with our culture’s obsession with specialness? It’s like we’re all stuck in a perpetual talent show, juggling flaming torches and singing a cappella in hopes of getting a standing ovation. But you don’t win anything for being special, folks. No prize, no trophy, not even a gift card to Applebee’s.
We all think we need to climb this invisible ladder of uniqueness. “Look at me, I can code while doing a headstand! Top that, Brenden!” The reality is, we’re all just circus performers in a ring, and there’s no one in the audience. We’re performing for an empty house, folks!
But here’s a little secret. You’re already special. You don’t need to perform interpretive dances at the crosswalk or juggle chainsaws to stand out. No one’s handing out blue ribbons for being the most unique snowflake in the blizzard.
Because here’s the truth: even if you fail, even if you never get that standing ovation, even if you don’t become the Instagram influencer you dream of being, you’re still special. No likes, shares, or retweets can define your worth.
And guess what? You don’t need attention to validate that. You don’t have to win the special Olympics of life to matter. If you spend your life seeking applause, you’ll miss the real show: the incredible, miraculous, utterly mundane experience of just being alive.
So, be a failure, be unnoticed, be your own kind of special, and remember: The only person you need to impress is yourself. And maybe your dog, because let’s face it, their opinion really matters.
Alright, that’s enough soul-searching for tonight. Thank you and try to remember, you’re special whether you laughed at my jokes or not. Goodnight!