I was never the kind of person who excelled at team sports or anything that required me to follow what others were doing. I couldn’t play basketball. I couldn’t cheer. I was in a high school play. I did great, except the part where I had to dance with other people. It was all choreographed and I just couldn’t follow the rules. I quit band because I had a hard time doing the same thing others were doing. They would be on right foot. I would be on left foot. I never could do aerobics or jazzercise. Everyone else would be turning or kicking and I’d be kicking or turning. I always felt uncoordinated. I felt different, like something was wrong with me. I felt like It shouldn’t be so hard. Other people did it. Why couldn’t I?

But today I realized that the different thing, that inability to follow the others has gotten me to a decent place. I made my own way. I created my path. I did what I needed to do. I didn’t start out thinking, right foot first, then left. Right, left, right. I just started out. My teammates at work all do completely different things than I do. In fact, no one there does what I do. It’s just me – in no man’s land. But I love it. I love creating my own way. I like that I can do it the way I want to do it. I don’t have to do it the way someone else does.

I know there are plenty of people out there who need that structure. They need to be told to start on your right foot and follow with your left. That’s fine. But don’t be afraid if you don’t follow that formula. Sometimes, you just have to put your foot forward. It doesn’t matter which one.