"Be Different", Beautiful!

Everyone has heard the phrase "be yourself," but often the reality is "be yourself....as long as you're not different." So when I heard about the new book "Be Different" by John Elder Robison, I was instantly intrigued. Robison is the brother of comedic author Augusten Burroughs, who wrote the book "Running with Scissors" that inspired a movie. Robison also has an Autism Spectrum Disorder called Asperger's, which I am very familiar with and interested in. This book is an easy to read compilation of his experience and advice on how to be happy and successful while still being true to yourself, despite your so-called flaws, quirks and eccentricities. Some may get bored with his plain speech but I found it refreshingly simple and straightforward, an Aspergian trait and also a tactic to make the book accessible to all ages. His matter of factness makes the anecdotes even funnier because he's not trying hard to make you laugh, he just does. As per the cover, this book gives humorous hope to all the "creative, quirky, geeky, and wonderfully different."



Hopefully the book "Be Different" inspires you to embrace your personality quirks and inner beauty, but if you have physical "flaws" that you struggle to hide, the advice is simple...stop hiding and hating! Embrace your flaws and enhance what you've got. If you dislike something about your looks, whether it be gap teeth or a nose too big for your liking..learn to like it and have a sense of humor about it. Don't hide it, but play up what you do like about your looks. If you don't like your teeth, don't stop smiling, just play up your pretty eyes with bold colors! It also helps to have a "beauty role model," someone with similar "flaws" that still appears attractive and confident. Personally, I have a huge forehead (a fivehead!) which I would painstakingly cover it with my hair, hats, headbands. It not only was unflattering but uncomfortable. Now I let it breathe with pride! Oh, and play up my eyebrows. Seriously, well-groomed eyebrows can make up for anything. Benefit's Brow-Zings are ama-zing. As for role models, Tyra Banks showed me that there's no shame in a huge forehead, and I think she'd agree when I say "My forehead is big because there's a big ol brain under there."
For some "be different" inspiration, think about successful quirksters Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Steve Wolzniack, Bill Gates. And for bold beauty and style inspiration, the prettynerdy crowns go to the King and Dueen of Quirkiness: gorgeous oddball Johnny Depp and wacky fashionista Lady Gaga. So, Who inspires you?