Social Stigmas

As per Wikipedia.com...

Social stigma is severe social disapproval of personal characteristics or beliefs that are against cultural norms. Social stigma often leads to marginalization.
Examples of existing or historic social stigmas are physical or mental disabilities and disorders, as well as illegitimacy, homosexuality or affiliation with a specific nationality, religion or ethnicity, such as being a Pole, a Jew, or a Gypsy. Likewise, criminality carries a strong social stigma.
Stigma comes in three forms: Overt or external deformations. Examples of this are physical manifestations of anorexia nervosa, leprosy, disabilities. Second, the known deviations in personal traits. For example, drug addicts, alcoholics, and criminals are stigmatized in this way. Third, "tribal stigmas" are traits of a race, nation, or religion that constitute a deviation from the normative race, nationality or religion. For example Jewish people in Nazi Germany, being an Arab Muslim in the United States since 9/11, and African Americans in the United States before the Civil Rights Movement.

Social stigmas are not confined to mental disabilities. It effects everything and everyone around us. It's what society says is normal.

If we did the opposite of what society deems "normal", what kind of existance would we be living in?

At First Glance

If you were to pass by me on the street, you would probably think I was "normal" in the most "normal" sense of the word. You walk down the street and pass by hundreds of people on a daily basis, and unless they are physically impaired, you would never know that they had any issues at all.

As an individual, if you were honest, you more than likely don't even know what the word "normal" means.

As per dictionary.com...
Normal - conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.

I laugh every time I hear the word being used. I always knew that I was far from normal. But, who determines what normal is? What is the "standard", and who sets it? The only answer I could come up with is Society. Society determines, and sets ALL standards and our general interpretation of "normalcy".

How did I know that I wasn't "normal"?

Well, there were a lot of signs that I tried to hide, lol, and did an awful job of doing so.

In school, you have projects and essays to write...I've never written an essay, or report myself. Would get too frustrated, cry, and walk away from it. On the due date, I was fortunate enough to either be an expert at playing sick, or, I would move. As an adult, I avoided my direct supervisors when I knew a report was due. Anything that had nothing to do with numbers has ALWAYS taken the back seat.

In middle school I was voted most energetic. I thought it was cool to be voted for anything, but when I analyzed it......I used to run up and down the hallways, jumping up and down, and sometimes on peoples back. I have no idea why I would do this.

When I was younger, to call me a motor mouth was such an UNDERSTATEMENT. All of my report cards said, "Wonderful young lady, talks too much", or "Great student, excessive talker". I would ride in the car with my father, talk his ear off, the ask..."Daddy, am I talking too much?”

Or, the inability to stay focused. I have conversations with people, and I have to forewarn them..."I am going to jump from subject to subject, just let me know when I lose you".

I would go on job interviews, open calls, to the DMV to renew my license and have to leave because there are to many people ahead of me. There was no way I could sit and wait for my turn.

As time goes on, and this particular blog begins to develop, I'll go into detail of my everyday struggle.
Please don't judge me...this is just my attempt to raise awareness. I am gifted with a curse...but blessed to know that I can manage my strengths and develop my weakness by restructuring my life!