Be Wyrd
A few years ago I started to dislike the word weird. It's one I used to say anytime something was new or I didn't understand it - that's weird. Somewhere along the way, I realized how hurtful of a habit this was. Just because something was unusual to me, did not mean it was unusual in general. My lack of education, understanding, or culture did not make something bizarre; it was more of a reflection of my own close mindedness rather than someone else's oddness.
When I looked up the etymology of the word I learned it originates from the old English, wyrd, meaning "fate, chance, fortune; destiny; the Fates"; The Fates of course being The Three Fates of Germanic Mythology who were powerful enough to control destiny. A word designed to embody mystery and power didn't reflect anything negative until 18th and 19th century productions of Macbeth portrayed the three sisters as frightening. Middle English had previously dubbed them the weird sisters and so this negative take on them led to the twisted transformation of the word from positive and powerful to odd-looking and disturbingly different. Today, we continue to use the word weird in a negative light. But should we?
I started to change my language and train myself to say different instead of weird, but I’m starting to understand why people want to reclaim words. Why does weird need to be bad? I find it interesting that the word originated to be something powerful, because today when I see someone or something that I used to call weird I am more often than not in awe of their boldness. To live and be exactly as you are, not worried about how others see you but just how you see yourself, is a truly powerful thing.
When you're younger it's tough; a pressure to fit in usually leaves people wanting because the sample size your working with is limited. But the older we get and the more exposure we have to the way others live, we realize just how many different ways of living are out there. This weekend, I spent some time writing and did a Brewery Hop with my husband while others around the word may have tossed some Tuna, charmed a few worms, made a ridiculous face or threw punches between some chess matches. Some may call it weird. I call it powerful and inspiring to be able to find your niche and be yourself.
Don't settle for what you've been told is normal. Find your normal. Be weird. In the words of a friend of mine's sister, "If you can't find your niche, that's your fault." There are so many things out there to enjoy in life, so let's find where we fit in and stop shaming other people for where they fit in. Thank you Heather Goyette for those words of wisdom which led to this Sunday Starter and me watching a three hour long Air Guitar Championship (start at minute 39 for the first performance). In the past I would have called it weird, today I smile as I watch people have the time of their life doing something they love. If that's weird, then I don't want to be anything else.
