Different is Good Lifebabble

Hi, Lifebabblers!

This time we're celebrating difference and individuality.

Everyone is into different things, like the clothes we wear,

the sports we enjoy or the music we like.

What makes you different?

I'm really tall.

I really love music, especially hip-hop.

I play the violin.

I love photography and I wear the hijab.

I'm short-sighted.

Do you sometimes feel a bit different?

No? Really?

OK, well, I do.

So if, deep down, you ever do feel like that,

here are three awesome things about being the odd one out.

Imagine if your yearbook photo looked like this.

Or this.

Nightmare!

Variety is the spice of life,

metaphorically speaking.

If you're into a certain style...

ROCK MUSIC PLAYS

Or wanting to express your passions...

then you know what, go for it!

A good friend will always accept you for who you are.

Think of the world's greatest legends -

scientists, pop stars, astronauts, artists,

they didn't care what people were thinking about them at school.

They were too busy following their dreams.

It's easy to feel like you have to fit in,

but if you have the confidence to be different,

then other people might just feel like they can do it too.

It's not OK to pick on people because they're different.

-Imagine how it feels to be in the other person's shoes.

-Yeah.

Like the time that you told my friends that I like to sing

and dance by myself when no-one's watching.

# Jeans all the time, jeans all the time, come on! #

Or that I still sleep with my teddy dog.

Yeah, but it's true though.

Don't you think that would be like me

telling everyone that you pull funny faces when you watch TV?

-Oi!

-It's not nice, is it?

-No, you're right.

We might be different, or do different things...

Even if we think they are a bit strange...

But nobody should pick on you for being yourself.

I have a disability called Asperger's syndrome,

which is a type of autism.

Part of my condition means

I find it really hard to sit still and concentrate in class.

I also struggle with coordination, like catching a ball.

But instead of focusing on the negatives of my condition,

I think of all the things I'm good at, like speed reading

and being really creative,

especially making up fantasy worlds and mythical creatures.

From time to time we all worry about being different.

If anything marks you as being different it can be really tough.

If someone doesn't like you for who you are,

then they're not a true friend.

Everyone of us is different.

And we all have our own unique strengths and weaknesses.

If you think someone is struggling with their own differences

why not reach out to them? Why not go over and say hi?

Being different is great. Just be yourself.

Everyone should feel good about themselves,

but if you don't, there are lots of ways to feel better about yourself.

Find one thing that you like about yourself,

whether it's your hair, your sense of humour

or even your love of Pythagoras(!)

Pythagoras, what a guy!

Once you've made that start, think of more things

and then build on them.

That's it for today, Lifebabblers.

Remember, for more Lifebabble head to the CBBC website.

Until next time, keep being different, and keep babbling.