By definition, according to my apple dictionary, an anomaly is “something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected.” It is not, by definition, something negative or unfavorable.

I look at anomalies to mean different from the norm. And in today’s politically-correct-track-home society, is this really such a bad thing? Can’t one argue that those people, places and things who are anomalies are just different and since they can’t be placed into a category neatly, perhaps they create their own category? And if so, is that something to be afraid of or in fact, worthy of embracing?

As one who has been called an anomaly before and has been shunned by people when I don’t fit into their idea of what is acceptable or not, I’ve started thinking about what it means to be different and why this would bother someone. What is it about being unusual that is threatening? Is it the unknowing involved? The difficulty in which to figure one out? The disregard for social mores? While I firmly believe that if one uses physical force upon another, they should be dealt with by an authority of law and justice, I do not believe that being different or something other than is expected is anything troubling.

But recently, I’ve started noticing that others can get angry with me when I don’t fit into their idea of what they consider “normal.”

For example, I’ll be the first to admit that I know VERY little about pop culture. I don’t watch much television or follow the paparazzi and have never liked things simply because they’re popular. I can’t tell you the names of the characters in the Twilight films or what time “So You Think You Can Dance” is on but if you want to know the feature film debut of Kenneth Lonergan or the names of the last three albums from the band The Clientele, I can tell you in a heartbeat. The point is, we all like what we like, right? And yet, I’ve found others don’t appreciate that I don’t know certain things they think I should.

So, I wondered… why do some get bothered when you aren’t similar to them? Is it because they need the confirmation that they fit in? Is it to be redeemed for their own behavior? Is it to feel “normal”?

I really don’t know. But what I do know is that I choose to embrace the differences among us because with originality comes creation.

And anyway, what’s so wrong with being odd? Isn’t life more interesting to meet those who are different from ourselves? Or at the very least, should you find yourself not caring for those who are different from you, why not just let them be if they cause you no harm? And if you can’t do that, perhaps your problem isn’t with them but with yourself…