The Black Sheep

There is something to be said for the "black sheep" in every herd.  I decided to get some background behind this common English idiom... and it got me thinking...

Let me start here:  Anyone who spends more than five minutes with me knows that I am in love with the world... and all the wonder it holds.  I love throwing my inhibitions to the wind... and letting some supernatural whim take me by the hand and lead me and my curiosities to new journeys and answers.  Some would call that irresponsible, childish.  I'm not sure when being curious about the world we live in... and exploring it without planning my "future" caught such a bad rep...

I've lived in the same place for nineteen years.  Sue me for wanting to say goodbye.  Better yet... let's just bitch at me every time I bring up a new plan, or dream.  Yeah, that sounds reasonable. Oh wait!... what about the good 'ole "You won't realize how much you love it until you move... you'll just come running back some day.  They always do."  What I want to know is... who the hell are they??... oh yeah, the whitey's (sheep that is).

So...

I was reading that the term "black sheep" is used to describe a certain member of a group (specifically a family member according to the Serbians and Polish), that holds the label of being odd, disreputable, different.  You see... no shepherd wants a black sheep... because the wool has no value.  It can't be dyed.  

But did anyone ever think... that maybe that's the beauty of the black sheep.  Yes, she is different... for she's most often the minority.  She doesn't follow the rest of the herd... so she's automatically singled out for being odd, maybe even stubborn... I mean, she won't even let herself be dyed.  She will forever be black... She will forever be her. 

I've learned to appreciate where I come from.  I've even learned to love the place I will forever call home.  But I am, and always will be the black sheep.  I am different.  I am odd.  I am even stubborn... I will leave this place to explore something new.  I won't plan every day of my future.  I will run without a destination.  I will dream my dreams and no one else's.

I will not be dyed.