By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills
Would you rather be normal or peculiar?
Think about the successful and noteworthy people through the ages, the ones you admire and respect. Were they boring or a bit quirky? Courageous? Distinctive? Set apart? Not afraid to take a stand for what was right? Mysterious? Bold? Resilient? Outliers? Unaffected by others’ opinion?
I think you understand where I’m going with this.
The first time someone said I was eccentric, bizarre, and a little quirky, I had to think about it. The more brain cells I poured into the comment, the more I liked the description. While some people might not be comfortable with the label of peculiar, I welcomed it.
In digging deeper, I found the online Merriam-Webster Dictionary lists 197 synonyms for peculiar. That tells me there are many of us, and we warrant a special celebratory day of our own.
The same link lists antonyms too: ordinary, normal, typical, average, unremarkable, standard, usual, and more. Peculiar is a positive for all the people who don’t want to hide under a doormat.
Peculiar has Latin roots in peculiaris, which means privately owned or extraordinary. It also traces back to pecuor cattle, with the idea of owning cattle as private property.
In Deuteronomy 14:2 KJV 2 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God, and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
Other versions of the Bible, such as the ESV and NIV, peculiar is translated as chosen.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Quotes about peculiar people:
“When you are convinced that what you offer is yours, whether it be mediocre or of standard quality, your originality will make people love you in a way you did not expect.” Michael Bassey Johnson
“To become a person does not necessarily mean to be well adjusted, well adapted, approved of by others. It means to become who you are. We are meant to become more eccentric, more peculiar, more odd. We are not meant just to fit in. We are here to be different. We are here to be the individual.” James Hollis
I’m very happy being among peculiar people. So how are you going to celebrate January 10 – National Peculiar People Day?
Comments 20
Right now, I am peculiar, discouraged, and yearning rolled into one, but moreso, peculiar. It is good to be able to vent.
Frances, this is always a good place to vent. I pray for your discouragement to be replaced with joy.
I really like this post, DiAnn. And I like being peculiar! The more I experience healing on my journey of walking with God, the more I feel like I am becoming me. In the past year, God has restored the “artist” and “farm girl” of my childhood. Sometimes when people reject parts of us—those peculiarities—we can begin to reject ourselves. But God has such a caring and loving way of restoring us and shaping us into His chosen people.
Michelle, the moment I read artist and farm girl, I knew we had kindred, peculiar hearts. Who wants to be like everyone else? God is in the business of attracting peculiar hearts.
I didn’t even know I had a special day until it was almost over! Oh, well! I enjoyed it anyway. I enjoy most days. We start by saying together: This is the day which the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it! Every day brings some treasure in the people who cross my path (at a medical clinic) or in the books or posts I read. I hope you are writing diligently because I haven’t had anything new of your for a while to read. Thank you, DiAnn, for writing!
Thanks, Stephanie. I think we can celebrate our peculiar traits every day. God gives us exactly what we need. Thanks for reading my books. Concrete Evidence was an October release, and Facing the Enemy is a late summer release.
Cool, a day for me! I always liked eccentric, and was happy that at my age I could be considered eccentric. 😁 Thank you for teaching me something new today!
Thank you, Jeanie. We should have a huge Peculiar Day Party!
You educated me today—-I didn’t know a day had been set aside to honor li’l ol’ me!
Thank you. I love this. Now l know peculiar people remind me of all christian people and I love this.
Thank you, Peggy. Yes, we Christians are all peculiar. Just like Jesus, and I love it too.
LOL, Peggy, we are in the same club!
I WILL SPEND THE DAY BY MYSELF DOING WHAT I LIKE. OFTEN I THOUGHT I WAS PECULIAR AND GUESS THAT IS NOT A BAD THING. I SURE ENJOYED THIS EMAIL OF DI ANN.
Oh, thank you, Jean. There is freedom and joy in accepting who we are.
Hurrah for peculiar people. How boring life would be if we were cookie cutters.
Thanks, Debbie, and who wants to be stars and hearts? 🙂
Oh my goodness! We really do have a day for everything! Trend setters are always peculiar people. If we are self-conscious in our uniqueness, we won’t fit the mold but we won’t influence others either. Whatsoever we do with confidence exudes authority and attracts others to follow suit. I have had a long-standing prayer request for the Lord to help me be like Jesus, unmoved by His circumstances and always acting out of Who He is. That is the journey we are on to the revealing of the sons of God.
Diana, your words are worth framing. Thank you for sharing your insights.
I began celebrating National Peculiar People Day by enjoying DiAnn’s post. As I scan my family members and my best friends, I can’t help but realize most are “peculiar” too. Thank you Lord for creating me peculiar–and my hope is that I’ll become an author as peculiar (successful) as DiAnn!
Luci, you made me laugh! We peculiar people give the rest of the world something to talk about.