Being one of “the few”

It can be scary, isolating, and lonely to be one of “the few” but for those who can find their voice, their confidence, and their place in the absence of a crowd, the reward is worth it. This is absolutely true in the workforce, and also absolutely true when you are one of the few children in your neighborhood.

As the 2 oldest of the 6 children in our 30-home subdivision, my children have two choices: trick-or-treat with the little ones or go out with their friends. This year (as has been true every previous year) they chose to set the example and to take the hand of a toddle instead of leaving to go to a bigger or more popular neighborhood/party. Was it worth it? I’d say so. This is the candy they scored in 30 minutes from 30 houses!

What can we learn from this (except that candy should be sold in smaller bags so that every house doesn’t have to buy enough for 15 children when only 6 are showing up)? I suggest that we learn that sometimes there is a reward for those who are willing to choose the less popular route, that sometimes being open to the nontraditional option pays off, that it is possible to be successful in ways that your peers can’t even imagine.

If success was measured in candy, my kiddos nailed it. Maybe you take some inspiration from the Halloween candy pile in my dining room and take a bold choice that’s right for you even if it isn’t the choice your peers make.