Not long ago I happened upon a book that changed the way I see myself. It's called Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar: How Self-Education and Pursuit of a Passion Can Lead to a Lifetime of Success, by James Marcus Bach. Since I've always been an information hound, studying interests on my own, the title intrigued me. Bach's general philosophy is that true learning happens when the student studies something that genuinely interests her - not because she needs grades, credits or credentials.

Many of us who find ourselves out of step with the majority of people around us are motivated more by passions or purpose than by outward rewards like social standing. Using purpose as a sort of anchor can help us stay grounded during times when life seems out of tune. Defining your purpose (it is self-defined; no one else can tell you what it is) can be the first step to establishing a life that feels authentic.

Living Outside the Lines

How has living differently from those around you affected your life? I've known people who relished the edgy feeling of challenging old viewpoints and asserting themselves. However, I'm not one of them. I'm fairly reserved and quiet by nature, so for me it's always been a challenge to say things like "I disagree" or "that's not how I want to spend my time."

But if you have definite goals you're working towards or values that affect how you live, and those values conflict with those of family and friends, you've got to find ways to be firm yet keep good relations. This is something I'll be exploring in future posts. I invite your input.

Marching to a Different Drum?

This is for everyone who feels as though they've spent their entire lives coloring outside the lines, whether as parents, students, employees, community members, consumers or citizens. My goal is to facilitate friendships, encourage conversations, generate ideas and make it possible to help each other. Even now in 2010, when it's easier than ever to celebrate individuality and diversity, there's a lot of pressure to conform.

I've found this to be especially true while parenting school-age kids; being a "helicopter mom" and a cheerleader are such pervasive expectations that if you don't go along with the game, you feel like a slacker.

A friend of mine feels as though she's always the one with the outside-the-box ideas at work. The fact that some of those wacky ideas have saved her company thousands of dollars doesn't make it any easier for her to be taken seriously by her cautious coworkers.

One of my colleagues consistently speaks up for homeless and at-risk young people. She's helped many of those kids find homes and jobs or enroll in school, thereby getting them off the streets. Her neighbors, however, find her passion a little strange - after all, these aren't her kids.

If being genuine and living an authentic life are more important to you than being hip, respectable, powerful or whatever the measuring standard for your age group and community may be, this blog's for you. Sailing against prevailing winds takes stamina. We need to encourage each other. I hope this blog can help out.