Thursday, 20 February 2020

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.” ― Maya Angelou

I saw this picture on Instagram last week of a magnificent pink manta ray. It's the only one of its kind in the world. I asked my husband why it was like that and he shrugged, 'It's some kind of genetic defect'.  Like we learn in the story of the Ugly Duckling, what initially seems like a handicap can in fact be our beauty and strength.


As I said recently, in my old age, I'm fairly unshockable. I’m discovering there is no unusual, just people that haven't found their tribes yet. Unlike the pink manta, you probably aren't the only person in the world going through what you are experiencing.



Sometimes your difference is what makes you special. Like Dorothy in the Oz, you just have to find your people. They may not be the same as you, but they love you all the same. Regardless of difference. Just like the pink manta ray and its remora.



Short and sweet with #Lifethisweek on the theme of Unusual. 

“That proves you are unusual," returned the Scarecrow; "and I am convinced that the only people worthy of consideration in this world are the unusual ones. For the common folks are like the leaves of a tree, and live and die unnoticed.”

― L. Frank Baum, The Land of Oz


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26 comments:

  1. Perfect - although this is in praise of the beauty in the imperfections and the uusual so perhaps isn't the best word to use...

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  2. That pink manta ray looks amazing. Being different can indeed be special, it's changing our mindsets however to allow us to see this.
    Ingrid

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  3. Hi Lydia, I believe that yes, we should be rejoicing in being different but it is certainly difficult to do that in a world where 'standing out' is not encouraged. We are all special in our own right, some of us just haven't realised it yet. #lifethisweek

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  4. That manta ray is stunning! And also huge... Now I'm scared of manta rays ;)
    Excellent points all around! I'm learning care less if I'm showing my "differences"

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    1. No! Manta Rays are magnificent. They don't have stingers and they have like a radar (marine biology people can use the actual word to describe it - radar will get you laughed at) so they can come right up to you but not actually touch you (unless they want to). They're incredible!!! Nothing to be scared of - and they don't like sharks so if there are mantas, there aren't sharks (this of course could also be wrong so don't take that as a fact...)

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  5. Lydia,
    Thank you for the manta ray image and your words of inspiration. To be different and true to onself is something I strive for as I get older. Not being different for different's sake but more the ability to just let myself be me and not try to compete and compare to others.

    We are each enough as we are.

    SSG xxx

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  6. I hope I am different - maybe slightly. We all carry our differences and that's wonderful. Diversity is enlightening. Lovely read.

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  7. The manta ray photo on instagram was an amazing sighting to see! I love this Maya Angelou quote, She had great wisdom.

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    1. Isn't it? I didn't know the copyright rules so I played it safe...

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. Ads in comments will be deleted. So stop doing it, thanks. Especially weight loss ones - big yawn!

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  10. That was a great way to describe unusual. I also like that unusual can be fine. No problem. We humans do get ourselves caught up with "different from the so-called norm:.

    Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week's optional prompt is Taking Stock. Using words of your own or ones from other bloggers as prompts is cool. Hope to see you there: 2 March 2020. Denyse.

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  11. I’ll admit it... I had to google the pink manta to have a look, what a fantastic creature!
    #KCACOLS

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    1. There's a link on the post - just press the words!

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  12. He is magnificent, isn't he! #KCACOLS

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  13. I rtghink we all strive to be normal, but maybe less so as we grow older. I'm happy to be different now but my kids are just despirate to fit in and be unseen as teenagers. #TwinklyTuesday #KCACOLS

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  14. Great post full of inspiration. As I get older I appreciate my differences more. #KCACOLS

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  15. Love this. Such a lovely way to describe unusual and different #kcacols

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  16. I love that quote. Great shot of the manta ray. Thanks for linking up #twinklytuesday

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  17. Wow what an amazing picture of the mantra its breathtaking. I like to be different I'm far from normal whatever that its. Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time

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  18. Who wants to be normal anyway?! #KCACOLS

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  19. Hi Lydia I love your take on 'unusual' and also the opening quote. As Crummy Mummy commented about 'who wants to be normal anyway?' I love celebrating everyone's uniqueness. #lifethisweek

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  20. I really do believe that we need to just remove the word normal from our lexicon! Although my favorite joke about normal is "75% of people believe they are above normal."

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  21. Hi Lydia, I love the Mary Angelou quote but that L Frank Baum one from The Land of Oz takes the cake - so spot on especially today it seems. Thanks for your take on Unusual, I really enjoyed it! #lifethisweek

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  22. Crikey, I did a double up of a prompt...how Unusual...soz, had to say it.
    Thank you for sharing your post as part of Monday's Life This Week. I do enjoy seeing my blogging friends pop in with a post to share and a comment too. Always appreciated. Next week, the optional prompt is View. I hope to see you there too. Take care, Denyse.

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