I have always found it interesting that the harder we work
at being different from everyone else the more we are the same. I grew up in
the 60's when the way we proved we were "nonconformist"
was to conform to every other "nonconformist". Even today, people
claim they are not part of the pack and their own person, yet other than their
name, you cannot tell them apart from the next guy.
There
are those who really are different and unique. I like to call them
success-minded people. Rather than feeling they must prove their uniqueness by
piercing every available part of their body to taking rudeness to the level of
an art, these people just naturally be the best they can be. Success-minded
people are people who believe that character, integrity and doing the right
thing is always the best way to go. They understand that doing what is right
and being truthful is not a case of following the crowd but of individual
choice. A choice they make with understanding and passion.
This
willingness to be unique and different from the crowd is one of the things that
draws me to Scouting. For the adult, that success-minded person, it may be
difficult to be different and stand out from the rest, but for a young person,
it is close to impossible. It is important for young people to feel accepted
and part of the group. When they decide to do right and to live a good life
that helps others and stays out of trouble, they many times are rejected by the
group. For an adult, making the decision to do right is just a choice, for the
young it takes courage.
“There suddenly appeared in my world - I saw them first, I think, in
1908 - a new sort of little boy - a most agreeable development of the
slouching, cunning, cigarette-smoking, town-bred youngster; a small boy in
khaki hat, and with bare knees and
athletic bearing, earnestly engaged in wholesome and invigorating games up to
and occasionally a little beyond his strength - a Boy Scout. I liked the Boy Scout.”
– H.G. Wells
(1866-1946)
Author
Somewhere in this crazy society we started to
believe that to be angry, rude, self-centered and displaying bad behavior was
somehow cool or fashionable. Success-minded people understand that it is in doing right and standing for a right that we really become our own person.
Likewise, the Scout knows that doing right, because it is right, can mean
rejection or be criticized by friends. But they will do it anyway. Anyone can
exhibit a bad attitude or wrong behavior. As the late Corrie ten Boom once
said, "Any dead fish can float downstream."
It is
the time that we make the decision to be
different. We choose to stand out from the crowd and be the example, not the
attraction. It takes courage and determination to be trustworthy, loyal,
helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean
and reverent. These are not the qualities you see encouraged in our schools or
government. It takes a person who can think for them self and have the guts to
stand alone if they must.
Be a different
breed than the rest. Be an example of what it means to not follow the crowd or
to give up your ability to be you. Be positive, pleasant and encouraging to all
you meet. They will take notice. As Mark Twain
said, "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the
rest."
You matter! You matter to the world and to yourself. Remember to be your
best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.
Scouting Out of Uniform
is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to
personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The
Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the
Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting
for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal
Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To
read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him
to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com. © 2018 John Patrick Hickey
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