Apparently, I'm a Crazy, Weirdo

There’s something that’s been bugging me lately that I don’t understand. Ok, fine there are a LOT of things I don’t understand. But one thing in particular is some folk’s reactions to the activities and hobbies of others that are beyond the white bread, middle-class, reality show watching, cheap beer swilling, couch potato, mall culture.

A little background: my husband and I both enjoy the Steampunk aesthetic. We’ve always loved dressing up for Halloween. So when we were introduced to “Cons,” and realized that dressing up in Steampunk attire was a thing, we embraced it. We went to Megacon for one day last year with our son. All three of us dressed in our homemade-Steampunk finest and had a blast. This year we are going for the whole weekend and naturally have been working on all new costumes. Additionally, in the past year, due in no small part to a couple of surgeries, I hit my rock-bottom and have come to grips with my food addiction. I’ve lost 55lbs so far, and have discovered that for me, the best way to keep myself on the straight and narrow is to focus on my fitness. Nothing excessive, just 30 minutes of some kind of exercise daily.  About 6 months ago, my husband and I discovered Adventure Racing. And we’ve thrown in a Warrior Dash for good measure as well.

Now, I’ll admit to being a pretty regular Facebooker. I like to share pics of the projects I’ve been working on or the races I’ve attended. And no, I don’t post every workout via iPhone app, nor do I post vanity self-portraits…not that there is anything wrong with that. Just sayin’.

And let me preface this by saying; many of my friends, if they choose to comment at all, have positive, encouraging things to say. And to be fair, I’ve got to admit that my closest friends and I do tend to enjoy a sarcastic humor. But that said, there are a lot of people whose every reaction, seemingly, to my activities/hobbies/projects are in the vein of: “You’re so weird!” or “You’re crazy!”

Really? I’m crazy for getting my ass off the couch? For finding something that inspires me to lead a healthier life? That brings my husband and I closer together? That improves my marriage instead of pulls us apart? I’m the crazy one for making time in my day to workout even if it means having to change clothes at work and take a whore’s bath? Perhaps it would be more “normal” for me to keep making excuses for my lifestyle and weigh 250lbs and be sedentary? And I suppose it would be more “normal” for me to sit on the couch after work and drink beer and smoke while my husband is in another room playing on a computer, instead of working on weirdo steampunk projects together in our workshop. I guess it’s just crazy that my reaction to a physical challenge is “Bring it on! Let’s try it!” not, “Are you freaking kidding me? No way!”

Fine. If that’s the case…I’ll be the craziest, fucking weirdo you’ve ever seen.

(breathe)

Ok, I know that when people make those kinds of comments they probably don’t mean them quite that sarcastically. In fact, I tend to think some of them are actually a veiled way of saying, “I wish I had the balls to do what you are doing.” But if that is the case, why can’t people fucking say that? Or just nothing at all? Why passive-aggressively try to cut down someone who is just trying to enjoy themselves? Are some people’s self-esteem or lack of peace with their own station in life that low that they feel the need to rip on others who are enjoying theirs? Don’t they realize that the “weirdo” and the “crazy” comments just make them look small-minded and boring?

The bottom line is that I am a Participant, not a Spectator in this life, now more so than ever.  So to all of those who have a problem with that, I say, “Your life and I will be sure to wave as we pass you by.”