So, after taking some time apart from writing due to just being so busy. I sat down and watched one of the most beautiful documentaries I have ever seen. I’m sure many of you heard about the book Wonder, which is now a major motion picture. It is about a little boy that may look different on the outside but he is as tough as nails on the inside. Soon after seeing the commercials for the movie, ABC started to show previews about an upcoming 20/20 special they were having about a little boy that was living life exactly how the movie character was.
The 20/20 special was about a boy named Nathaniel who has Treacher Collins syndrome. It is a rare disorder that causes craniofacial deformities. I am not going to say too much about the special because it is a show that everyone should watch along with their children. Yes, it is sad at times to see that a child has to live life worrying about what other people think of him but it is refreshing to see how tough he was to get through the bullying. Let’s face it, kids and their words can be brutal and mean. The whole time while I was watching the show, I was amazed and proud that Nathaniel never gave up.
So why write about this show? Well, honestly, it’s because I want people everywhere to know that being different is beautiful. If we were all the same, life would be boring. Everyone looks different, lives different and feels different for the exact reason that it allows us to experience life how it was meant to be.
Country music singer, Sam Hunt, once said, “The key to me is being different not for the sake of being different, but being the most authentic version of what you do. And definitely it takes a willingness to be different, because there was resistance for me early on, and I feel like that’s usually the case when there’s a certain paradigm or trend happening, and you step outside of that.” This quote sums it up perfectly, don’t be afraid to be different and don’t be afraid to be outside of the box that society says we should all be inside.
Embracing differences can be hard to understand but that is what makes the people around you special. From television segments like the one previously mentioned, it teaches us that you have to use your differences to grow and help society recognize the beauty behind everyone. I have found my happy place and it is being surrounded by my supportive family and doing things that I love which is writing and dancing. Just like Nathaniel never gave up, I will do the same. I will learn to be outside the box because that is what makes life adventurous and fun.
To end this post, I want to talk about a song that was mentioned in the 20/20 special. That song is called Beautiful and is by Christina Aguilera. In the song, it says, “You are beautiful no matter what they say. Words can’t bring you down…oh no. You are beautiful in every single way. Yes, words can’t bring you down, oh, no. So don’t you bring me down today…” Always remember that no matter what differences you may have, you are perfect in your own way. Most importantly, don’t ever let anyone tell you differently.
Hannah Fakhrzadeh 