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Being Thankful by Celebrating our Uniqueness

On 21 Nov, 2012 By With 9 Comments

Being Thankful by Being UniqueThis is a post that’s been brewing in my mind for a while, and Thanksgiving seems like a great opportunity to share it. (For the non-U.S. readers, don’t worry. This post still applies.)

I had the chance to travel to a conference in Boston this month that was all about search engine rankings and marketing in general. One idea that I kept hearing again and again was to make the most of the resources you already have. The reasoning wasn’t because it’s cheaper and easier to pull those resources together… because it’s actually not easier to look at what you have and find a new way to use it. The easy solution is to buy more, but our economy can tell the tale that buying more — especially when you don’t have the resources — isn’t the best solution.

The reason to use the resources we already have is that they help to distinguish who we are. Our unique attributes help us to stand out in a world of “mostly same.” The CEO who is also a sculptor stands out more than the CEO who just loves his job. The artist who only paints designs on discarded building materials stands out more than the artist who simply paints on canvas. There’s a story there. There’s a reason to find out more about these people.

Being unique not only allows us to create a point of intrigue, but it also affords us an opportunity to show gratitude for what makes us stand out.

As teenagers, we do as much as possible to blend in with the crowd. If we can just fit in, then we won’t get picked on, and we won’t become a target. But, as we grow into the adults that we want to become, we have to decide whether or not we will celebrate who we are.

If we’re embarrassed about our unique characteristics, then we’re simply going to try to blend in again. Or, we’re going to try to buy new characteristics that will make us into better people. Certainly, the new version of us will be more appealing, right?

But how many times do we have to reinvent ourselves before we find a version that we’re pleased with?

We already possess characteristics and quirks worth celebrating. What if we were simply grateful for who we already are? We could focus more on sharing that quirky characteristics to help enrich the world.

I’ve been on a big kick lately to examine what I can uniquely bring to my work environment, to my family, and to groups I’m a part of. By focusing on what I’m uniquely suited for, I allow room for others to contribute their unique gifts. I can not only celebrate who I am but who they are, as well. (Look at that. Two opportunities for gratitude at the same time!)

This week, take a moment to consider what characteristics and quirks you can celebrate and be grateful for. And next week, rock them out. Look for ways to highlight those characters, to be you x3 as Mars Dorian says.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Image Source: Thomas Hawk

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  • http://www.valueofsimple.com/ joeyjoejoe

    I love the picture at the top of this post. And your words about using the resources you already have instead of constantly seeking out new ones holds water with me. It reminds me of a part of the conversation @ethanwaldman and I had on episode three of Smart and Simple Matters.
     
    I said, “People have a lot of the tools and resources that they need to achieve whatever it is that they want. Sometimes they just need some awareness. Somebody to give them additional guidance or handholding to say, ‘Look, you have what you need. Here is a program; here is a paradigm for you. And now, use the tools; don’t buy some super fancy plugin or additional service. Use what you already have.’
     
    And then Ethan said, “Yeah, that’s such a great way of saying it. I think that applies not just to email but to just using technology for your business in general is…more technology is not better. In fact, I would say get away with using as little technology as you can because that’s less that can fail or break or cause complications. Especially for new business owners, you can get obsessed with all these different tools and services and plugins and things that are available to you.”
     
    Whether it’s email, technology, work, family, or just living, we often have everything we need to be happy and free. Awareness and gratitude go a long way toward achieving what we want. Happy Thanksgiving Michael!

    • michaelwroberts

      @joeyjoejoe  @ethanwaldman It’s such a simple concept, but it’s so tough to keep at the front of our minds… especially when the new thing looks so shiny and easy to use.
       
      I’m doing what I can to seek out folks in my life that can help me see the obvious elements I’m missing. Maybe I can provide that same insight for others, too.
       
      Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

  • http://remadebyhand.com/ remadebyhand

    What a great spin on Thanksgiving :) We always tell kids not to do something just because their friends are doing it. “If so-and-so jumped off a bridge, would you do it too?” And then as adults we just start doing everything like everyone else. We’re embarrassed, as you say. But in personal life and in business, I’m seeing more and more that our unique points, stories, talents are where we can not only stand out from the crowd, but contribute most fully to the world around us. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

    • michaelwroberts

      @remadebyhand Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Erin! 
       
      I spend a lot of time reading / listening to media from folks that have inspired me on a more personal level. Their unique aspects of life draw me in to pay attention to what it is they’re saying. In a sea of voices, a real connection makes ALL the difference.

  • http://sarahgoshman.com/ sarahemily

    I was just thinking about this topic in relationship to Thanksgiving and how constantly amazed and grateful I am for all the unique interesting people in this world, and for the web allowing us to share that much more of ourselves. Cheers to being unique!

    • michaelwroberts

      @sarahemily I totally agree. I love the opportunity to talk to people around the world on a daily basis. It just makes that opportunity for diversity all the richer.
       
      Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Sara!

  • http://ShannaMann.com/ Shanna Mann

    What a cool idea! I like the idea of “a CEO who also sculpts”. Certainly Richard Branson is interesting more for people Richard Branson than his particular business acumen. 
     
    I’ll have to give some thought own “who also”– mostly I’ve been trying to avoid being “the wunderkind” and simply “a successful woman entrepreneur” (which I find infuriating.) Thanks for the push!

    • michaelwroberts

      @Shanna Mann I just started reading “Enchantment” by Guy Kawasaki, and he had some interesting stories of different business leaders that he’d met along the way. 
       
      Happy Thanksgiving!

  • http://bit.ly/aboutethan-livefyre ethanwaldman

    As they say, people who practice gratitude are happy, but not all people who are happy practice gratitude.  It’s great to find just another reason to be thankful to the people around us.