Let’s Get Weird

You know that cliche about how all the cool and pretty people in high school didn’t have to cultivate personalities so they turn into boring people and all the ugly, uncool people did have to create personalities so they become the CEOs and artists and stuff? Well I’m not sure I quite buy all that but my point is this: We are surrounded by an ever increasingly materialistic world and we expect more and more to be able to buy personalities. We buy the clothes, the music, the food, the coffee and use the language that will identify us as what we want to be seen as. Which, fair enough- it’s kind of an ingrained thing and if it creates diversity then it’s no skin off my nose. However, wouldn’t it be cool if tomorrow on your commute to work or school, you had a really great and wildly interesting conversation with someone you don’t know? Not that this would never happen but it seems unlikely, right? It’s not for a lack of people being interesting, it’s because… well actually I’m not quite sure why. Anyway. My thesis: let’s get weird.

Tips to Cultivate Weirdness:

- Sing loudly and sing often. Narrating what you’re doing is a perfect example.
- Buy at least one piece of surrealist art. This might mean you go buy a banana, stick a nail through it, wrap ribbon around one end and place it on your coffee table.
- have an alter ego. Mine is Raul Garbanzo, a deep-voiced and very suave Mexican man
- go have lunch with your weirdest and loudest friend in a very crowded public place
- develop a signature piece of clothing. Wear a top hat, tie a bandana around your neck, or wear bright red pants. Everyday. Then, right as people get used to it, change it!!
- talk to your food. Just trust me on this. You’ll be surprised what it says back
- Don’t be so serious. Life is tragic and hard and heartbreaking but you know what… it’s all we’ve got so have a ball. Seriously. Throw a ball and invite me.