The Upside Down Person’s Guide to Everyone Else
It’s all about doing your weird instead of hiding it.
You belong on the outside. At first it hurts, everyone treating you different. But things change. Eventually they crave you. They invite you in, but you don’t RSVP. Maybe the most popular guy (or girl) in school even asks you out. And you say no. He’s not your type.
You’re an outsider — upside down.
You do life aslant from everyone else. You go out with your friends, but you pack a book. You have no idea why the bartender keeps pouring you vodka shots and asking what page you’re on.
You’re the kind of person who prefers the corner — the shade, the shadow. Mistaken as shy. They don’t get you, even if they want you, not that you mind much. You’re mysterious, intriguing.
You do your own thing. What else?
You wear confidence like lingerie
Self-esteem looks good on you, and not everyone needs to see it. Inner confidence gives you the power to let insults slide off, to say no. You have the kind of courage that whispers.
You don’t smile with your lips
You smile with your eyes, like a cat. You can’t always tell if a cat’s happy. But if a cat becomes unhappy, it’ll let ya know.
You do weird on purpose
At first you fight what sets you apart from others. You just want to slip through. Then you learn that fitting in is overrated. You stop hiding your strange and learn how to leverage it.
You don’t do small talk
You do conversation — big boy/girl talk. You ask people what they do for a living, because you want friends and lovers who like their jobs. You gravitate toward people with a purpose.
Your tongue doesn’t need training wheels
You ask about people’s beliefs, politics, childhood, and dreams. You jump right in, because life is just that brief. It’s okay for someone to talk about trauma, child abuse, or rape around you. That’s how you become friends — by talking about real shit, not the weather.
