Many moons ago, and really, I do mean many, when I was a pupil (now known as a "learner"), we were classified into the normal classes and then there were those who were put in the special class. I guess by being in the special class, you were kind of automatically labelled - most times negatively. In the so called normal classes, there were the naughty kids, the good kids, the top performers, etc, etc. Now by today's standards, our kids are labelled ADD or ADHD, or numerous other things. Often they're fed Ritalin in various forms to "help them concentrate". I take a metaphorical step back and I see that today we have this incredible wave of ADD and I don't wonder for a minute what has caused this generation to be ADD, but think that most of us were/are ADD/ADHD but were just not labelled as such. Some of us were labelled dyslexic or dumb or stupid or slow or naughty...ag man.... pick your label! I realise now that my two kids have a mom and dad who are both deserving of the ADD label. Well, I can tell you something, I rejoice in my ADD! I harness it and ride it like a rodeo horse! And hopefully I've encouraged my offspring to do the same.
Labels are not what we give ourselves, or shouldn't be anyway, but what other people give us. We should only have one label for ourselves and that is one of unlimited awesomeness, or perhaps endless potential, or maybe undeniably brilliant. I say shake off those labels that people stick on us and realise that we are what we believe we are. Let's take that a step further and start to view the individuals around us as incredible, special, amazing souls. That way, we don't put people in boxes and expect a certain kind of behaviour. I believe it was Henry Ford who said "if you believe you can or you believe you can't, you'll be right". The interesting thing is, that those kids in the special classes are mostly today highly successful adults, while many of the top achievers at school are now simply idling along in life, or sometimes, down and out.
Let's all take a deep breath and believe we can, and have faith that those around us can too, no matter what label society has decided to stick on you. Rejoice in your uniqueness and go out there and be the best, most awesome, beautiful you, you can be!
