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Stereotypical

A professor I had in college once said to the class, "...never become a stereotype."

I watched as many of my classmates nodded their heads in agreement. But her words resonated with me in a much different tone, and I just had to let her know.

"What if you were happy with your life, but just so happened to BE a stereotype? Should you focus on being 'outside' the box just for the sake of it, regardless of how you wanted to live your life?" I just had to ask her. This was a professor I got along with and respected, but it really bothered me that she would give a warning like this to my peers.

WHAT in the WORLD is so WRONG with NOT making it your life's purpose to be unique???

I find uniqueness to be pretty hilarious in the fact that it in itself is a stereotype.

Do you follow? Are you picking up what I'm throwing down here? ;-)

I have a bachelors in biology and 6 years of experience as a research assistant. I just decided to become a stay at home mom, and have started working a part-time job as a secretary for my chiropractors. I now spend my days changing diapers, making bottles, doing dishes, cooking, and cleaning (oh yeah and I crochet like I'm somebody's grandma). I have become that stereotype. I'm a Stepford wife...just without the hair and make-up (oh yeah and I'm not a robot).

And you know what? I'm blissful. I'm free. I've broken the bondage that comes with focusing on being different...one that was previously forcing me to be something I'm not. I've never been this happy doing anything else in my entire life.

Okay, I lied about this world hating stereotypes. Although no one would admit it, it's actually okay to be stereotypical. As long as that means you are a perfectionist workaholic who loves engaging in academic conversations on a regular basis. As long as you never involve yourself with petty things such as celebrity news or fashion. As long as you follow a religion you decided to make up on the fly so you'd never have to ever be held accountable for anything. You see, collectively, these are the things we value.

I have just heard phrases like, "Oh, I liked that before it was popular," and "No, I can't do that because it is so cliche," too many times. If you like something, just like it! Why does it matter if it's popular or not?

There is one place that I do know I am definitely unique, however. And that is in the eyes of God. He sees me for who I am. He knows my thoughts before I have them. He wrote down each day of my life in His book before I even took one breath. I'm living a life for God, and I have a peace and happiness that I never had before when I was trying to live up to the world's expectations.

So, I'm just fine with having become 'stereotypical.' In this day and age it's rare.

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