The Odd One Out (And Proud of It)
Maybe I’m not living in the wrong world after all — maybe I just stopped pretending to belong to the one that gave up.
The Art of Being the Odd One Out
There are moments in life when you look around and think, Am I the odd one out?
Lately, I’ve realized that I am — gloriously so.
While many people my age are slowing down, downsizing, or settling into a quieter rhythm, I’m doing the opposite. I’m over here pushing myself harder than ever — stretching my limits, embracing growth, and diving headfirst into challenges that light me up.
Social media? I’m learning new platforms and creating connections that matter.
Writing? It’s my daily practice — the way I weave inspiration into words.
And art? It’s still the heartbeat of everything I do — the purest expression of my soul.
But here’s the truth: being the “odd one out” isn’t always comfortable. Some days, it feels lonely. Some days, it makes you question your belonging. Yet every time I catch myself wondering if I should tone it down or fit in, something inside me whispers, Don’t you dare.
Because that’s what freedom sounds like.
A while back, I decided if I’m going to be different, I might as well have fun with it. One day, I tied an enormous pink bow on my head — yes, this very one in the photo — and walked downtown. I got some funny looks, sure, but I also got conversations. People told me I made them smile. One woman even said I made her day. That’s when I realized — being “too much” is often just being fully yourself.
That’s why I created The Soul-Led Scavenger Hunt — a little roadmap for rediscovery. It’s not about reinventing yourself; it’s about uncovering the parts you buried to survive
.
The playful one. The brave one. The curious one who still wants more from life.
This isn’t self-improvement — it’s self-remembering.
It’s permission to discover who’s been waiting underneath the noise.
Permission to enjoy your quirks.
Permission to say what you mean.
Permission to laugh loudly, dream wildly, and yes — wear the damn bow.
Gratitude keeps me moving — gratitude for my health, my curiosity, and the clarity that I’m not done yet. I don’t see this as my time to fade into the background. I see it as my second act — the era where I do the things that once scared me.
So if you’ve been feeling a little out of step lately — with yourself, your world, or where you thought you’d be by now — take it as a sacred sign. You’re not lost. You’re just being called back to your own rhythm.
Because when you stop fighting who you really are, life stops fighting you back.
So here’s my invitation:
Wear the bow.
Say the thing.
Paint it messy.
Laugh too long.
Let your delight be the proof that you’ve come home to yourself.
After all, the sidelines were never meant for us anyway.
💋
Grateful, odd, and beautifully rewired —
Monica
We don’t retire, we rewire™.
💫 For paid subscribers:
Every Saturday, I send a Soul Note — a private audio letter straight from me to you — about what it really takes to stay lit up after sixty. The missteps, the magic, the rewiring in real time.
Your subscription doesn’t just support my words — it helps keep the art alive, too. Every canvas, every essay, every spark I send out is part of the same mission: helping women remember what they’re still capable of.
If you’re ready to live your second act wide open…
👉 Become a paid member today.
Sometimes the internet can be a really dark place, a space where people judge each other or where we become too focused on how we appear to others. It’s always beautiful to be reminded that our uniqueness is never something to be ashamed of. Thank you for this post!