{unique in the best of ways}

Often the things we hide and consider awkward or ugly are what make us unique in the best of ways.

I have a band-aid shaped brown birthmark smack dab in the middle of the top of my left foot. Until about late high school, my primary criteria when summer shoe shopping was if the straps strategically covered it. I treated it like an unhealed wound. I was embarrassed by it and thought people would judge me because of it. (And in those difficult teenage years I was probably partially right.) 

It wasn't until my early twenties that I let it free. I bought flip flops with abandon and laughed when children or the occasional adult would ask, "What happened to your foot?!" with equal parts fear and curiosity. 

Now, at the age of 36, my brown band-aid and I live in a fairly decent state of harmony.

The other day, a new-ish friend and I were enjoying a mid-day chat about all sorts of random life things and I must have mentioned my birthmark. And she said, "I love your birthmark!"

Our conversation kept going at the same happy pace, but inside those words stopped me in my tracks. This was the first time anyone had equated positive feelings with this part of me. She saw what I considered to be an awkward thing I tolerate as something that contributes to my uniqueness. 

We could all use more friends like this, right?

What is something unique about you or someone you love that you can celebrate today?

XO,