Dancing to the Beat of a Different Drummer

Many years ago, I ran into a previous employer in the grocery store. I had my four kids with me because they typically went everywhere with me & I actually enjoyed their company. My former boss was asking if my older kids were starting school soon. I explained that my husband and I had decided to homeschool them. This was back before homeschooling was cool.

He just looked at me, shook his head & said, “You always did dance to the beat of a different drummer”. Believe it or not, I considered that remark a great compliment.

When people would see me out with my four kids, they would say, “Are all these yours?” Really? I only have four kids people, not fourteen. Many people thought you had lost your mind if you PLANNED to have that many children. It wasn’t popular to have more than two back then, but I didn’t mind going above the national average.

 I didn’t mind dancing to the beat of a different drummer.

When we decided to homeschool our kids, people thought I was crazy. Why would you want to take on that responsibility and why would you want to be with your kids 24/7? Even my mother-in-law thought I was crazy at the beginning. We didn’t have a lot of support when we started.

I didn’t go into it blindly. I had done some research and found that most kids who were homeschooled were thriving in their home environment & we felt this would be a good fit for our family.

We started with kindergarten for my oldest. We were going to take it one year at a time & reevaluate each year. We finished 23 years later. I homeschooled all four kids, kindergarten through 12th grade. It was a great experience that I’ve never regretted. It was challenging at times, but such a blessing. All four of our children graduated from college, got great jobs, and went on to have blessed lives (in case you measure success by these standards).

Dancing to the beat of a different drummer turned out to be a great choice for our family.

I guess I really haven’t cared about being different than the mainstream culture, if I felt I was doing what was beneficial for myself or for my family.

After all, God gave us great minds to research & figure out all the options before making a decision. We don’t have to do what everybody else does if we feel “doing it differently” is going to be better.

When I started to eat plant-based, people thought I had jumped off the deep end for sure.

Some still do.

I know they thought it was a "craze" that I would be done with quickly. SURPRISE!

I researched the data for myself, worked with my doctor, and made sure I was making a choice that would be healthy and beneficial. Over the past 2 ½ years, my doctor has discontinued my blood pressure meds and my high cholesterol meds.

I’ve also dropped 60 pounds and NO LONGER CRAVE SWEETS, NOR YO-YO DIET. This is a miracle. A MAJOR miracle.

I’ll admit, it’s a different eating style than most practice. Even though most in my family don't eat this way, it's right for me, as I work to maintain good health. The Standard American Diet (SAD) led me to poor health and obesity. Now, I don’t feel bloated and lethargic after my meals. I don’t feel depressed anymore because I can’t find the answer to lasting weight loss. This informed decision has resulted in wonderful benefits for me.

So, do I dance to the beat of a different drummer?

Yes, sometimes I do. Especially, when I feel the “mainstream way” is not going be beneficial for me or my family. Don’t be afraid to dance to the beat of a different drummer.

Research for yourself.

Choose the best option, even if no one else is.

Then look around. You will find others who are also dancing to the beat of a different drummer too. Hang with them for support.