It was only around 25 degrees F. this morning while I took my walk, but the sun was glowing and well, that makes it all better.

During the winter I take walks in my long black wool coat and my black (or olive) knitted gloves and my tweadish knitted cap and carry my faded maroon umbrella (strapped closed), too. Oh, not for the rain or snow, but to keep the occasional loose dog away with the nice, long wooden tip with its metal piece.

I thought about how I must appear walking around like that and this quote which Patty shared came to me:

"One of the greatest assets any person can secure is a reputation for eccentricity. If you have a reputation of this kind you can do a lot of things … Many an act which, if performed by an ordinary person, would arouse indignation, animosity and antagonism can be performed by a person with a reputation for eccentricity with no other result that that of exciting mirth … "
E.W. Scripps

Love that! 

My favorite movies and documentaries? Those with eccentric people in their story. Always, I sit there and wish I could be more eccentric, well, not insane-eccentric-crazy, but more like free-eccentric. Unafraid to be who I really am, even if that means appearing loopy, unusual to others. And brave enough to do the good things inside my heart, things which shyness and thoughts of 'people-just-don't-do-that' stop me from doing.

But not so eccentric as to make people back away slowly and escape. Rather, unique enough to draw them in. Curious, wanting to hear and watch more.

So while I took my walk today all bundled-up and with my umbrella on a perfectly clear morning and happy in the cold, I thought perhaps I'm getting a good start on this eccentricity thing. And, if so, wouldn't that be lovely? Who knows where that kind of freedom could lead?


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Have you ever done anything which, looking back, may have been viewed by others as being rather eccentric?