Recently, during a discussion I was called crazy. At first, my feelings were hurt. But, I had to really think about it and now I agree. I have always said that if someone thinks that they are normal that they are in serious trouble. We are all a little bit crazy and it’s evident by the state of affairs. But, I am really crazy and I have to be. It takes being really crazy to be different from other people and to live by your own rules.

“Confront the dark parts of yourself, and work to banish them with illumination and forgiveness. Your willingness to wrestle with your demons will cause your angels to sing. Use the pain as fuel, as a reminder of your strength.”- August Wilson

Throughout time, the people that have made history were called crazy by people that didn’t understand or believe they could accomplish what they set out to do. I’m sure someone told Harriet Tubman she was crazy when she found freedom, but went back time and time again to rescue other slaves. People probably called Christopher Columbus was crazy because they thought he was going to sail off the face of the earth. Anyone that has accomplished a first was called crazy when they told other people what they wanted to do. Radical change requires radical thinking. The desire for change has to be stronger than the fear within yourself and the fears of others that you will be confronted with. You have to be a little crazy to strike out and do something different. You have to be a lot crazy to create your own rules and act from them, because people do not support what they don’t understand or agree with.

I have spent my life following the rules and doing what is expected of me and it really hasn’t panned out for me. I am not doing the things that make me happy and I am not living the life I see for myself. It’s all because I’ve spent my life chasing the wrong dream. I’ve spent my life staying within the lines so I don’t bother anyone else. I was always afraid of the disappointing glares of the people I love. But, I am starting to realize that those disappointing glares don’t have to have as much power as I am giving them. I can have crazy courage and decide to live my life on my terms.  Putting myself in a box is not going to inspire anyone else.

Every person has encountered someone that told you what you can’t do in this life. Some people are surrounded by them. It’s not easy to decide to do something different when everyone around you is telling you how you should think and feel. And, sometimes, they might even call you crazy. But, if you know that what you are doing is important to you, then you have to choose to live by your own rules. I have decided that this year for me is going to be about being crazy. I am going to have crazy courage and I am going to make decisions to live by my own rules. I am going to do things that others are going to look at and wonder what is wrong with me. But, that is okay. I know now that in order to get what I want out of this life that I can’t follow opinions. I have to trust myself. I have to make a decision to do the things that scare others and even myself, because this is my life. I want to look back on my life and see that I followed my heart. It’s that simple. The only failure is in ever trying.

“A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.”- John C. Maxwell