Today I was told, "You are unusual." This statement was followed by further complimentary support, and though I initially took it this way, it disturbed me. It created a nagging discomfiture. I believe it did so because each one of us is unique and unusual in some way(s), and I do not feel I should be praised or elevated for my humanity. Because I have a unique skill set that meshes productively with a specific circumstance, merely means that I am lucky; it does not mean that I am superior, gifted, or deserving of special attention.

We live in a culture of conformity. To be singled out as "important" in any regard, in the context of our busy routine, is bound to inflate an ego. It should not. Instead, it should encourage one to more actively seek circumstance that suits skills.

I suppose some may say that this is a rather deterministic outlook; (in that productivity is necessary, and reason is necessary for maximal productivity, and to be singled out is likely to disrupt reason). Others may see it as humility. Because I am discomfitted by undue praise, and because I see most praise as unnecessary and undue, and because I don't haphazardly throw out compliments to others, I suppose my equitable outlook is rather deterministic. I can live with that. I am free to choose, and my choice may even influence an outcome; but it will never stand alone.

For every moment spent reflecting on one's own personal importance, there are surrounding mega-multiple moments spent (by others) oblivious to the one's self-aggrandizement. And in this sense---from this perspective---it feels like a ridiculous waste of effort to feel important. This is not to say that effort should not be expended on actively seeking circumstance that suits skills. And it is not to say that one will not be tempted by a siren song of fanciful adulation. This week's thought is meant to encourage more efficient productivity, and to temper these tempting inclinations, with some realistic perspective.