Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
-- Margaret Mead

I am a fan of Monty Python. In one of the films, Life of Brian, there is a scene where all the followers of Brian show up in front of his house. He goes to speak to them and says, "You are all individuals!" and they respond in unison, "Yes, we are all individuals!" and then one man in the front mumbles, "I'm not."

We all want to feel unique. We want to stand out in a crowd. Crack the funniest jokes. Be the most intelligent. Tell the best stories. Have eclectic and exotic tastes. Be different.

However, in an attempt to be different we remove ourselves from other people. If they cannot relate to us, it is our loss.

My hero was Spock when I was young. In the attempt to be smart, logical, level-headed, intelligent, and well-read, I became a geek. Let me tell you. In high school you do not want to be a geek. I was on the fringes. Somewhat of an outcast.

So being the geek I was I was determined to be even more different. I would talk about obscure or esoteric stuff. People would just give me strange looks.

It is okay to try to be unique, but don't be so unique that you are too different from anyone else. Then you will only be unique and lonely!