How a bold pair of shoes taught me to embrace uniqueness

You can either be a trend chaser, and do what everyone else is doing, or a trendsetter, by doing what feels right to you.

Hello there beautiful people! My name is Ash Lamb, and this is The Visual Growth Letter. An illustrated newsletter about life and creativity.

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As a 12-year-old starting high school, everything was new to me.

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New friends, new teachers, and new routines...

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It was all so different from primary school, and I was out of my comfort zone. I was nervous about standing out and getting picked on, so I tried my best to blend in with everyone else.

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One day, while out shopping with my dad, I saw a pair of Adidas shoes that caught my eye.

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They were the latest model and had a bold leopard print that I couldn't resist. Despite knowing that wearing them to school might make me a target for ridicule, I begged my dad to buy them for me.

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When I put on the shoes for the first time, I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. Would people make fun of me for wearing such a bold choice?

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I arrived at school, hoping to blend in and avoid attention. But as soon as I stepped out of class, some of the popular kids approached me.

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I braced myself for the worst but to my surprise…

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They complimented my shoes and even asked where I got them.

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I couldn't believe it - I had expected to be laughed at, but instead, I was setting a trend. Throughout the day, more and more people asked me about my shoes, and some even shouted out their admiration as I walked by.

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Years later, everything clicked

As Steve Jobs famously coined "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards."

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It may have seemed like a small thing, but those shoes gave me the courage to be myself and embrace my uniqueness. From that day on, I walked a little taller, knowing that it was okay to be different and stand out from the crowd.

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Your uniqueness is what makes the world a brighter place. Without it, you would just be another cog in the machine.

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You can either be a trend chaser, and do what everyone else is doing, or a trendsetter, by doing what feels right to you.

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If you do pick the latter path, you'll notice how other people start to copy you.

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Be unapologetically yourself and live authentically. You'll be happier and the universe will reward you for it sooner or later with the unexpected.

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An old viral video that remains popular and widely shared

I find it fascinating! Everyone is just sitting in the grass when someone starts to dance. At first, everyone feels embarrassed, so out of the ordinary. After all, we've all been told to hide our quirks and behave like adults. Well, that's until one person joins the dancing, and before you know it there's a whole crowd! Human nature is fascinating!

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Thank you so much for reading!

I truly appreciate your readership and support. Without you, this project wouldn't be the same. :)

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Great love and respect,

P.S. Your turn! I'm curious to know if you've had any similar stories or realizations regarding your own personal uniqueness. If yes, please let me know! I'll read every reply.