Out-of-the-Box

That seems to be where I spend a good deal of time.  Thinking outside of the box.  I've always thought it to be a good thing, but lately, I'm not so sure.  It seems that sometimes, or so I've been told, thinking outside the box scares those that prefer to spend their time inside the box.  Ironically, just yesterday, I read a GREAT article about this exact topic on another blog.  Seems that most people find comfort within their little box.  But in some cases, people outgrow the box, for whatever reason, and decide to leave it behind.

And that makes others very nervous.  Cause being an outside-the-box thinker is who I am naturally.  Which these days, I'm not sure I like.

Some people might say that living inside the box is lonely and isolating, but I'm experiencing the opposite.  Seems that there are few people who naturally think outside of the box.  So really, I'm finding the outside rather lonely, and to be honest, a bit frightening.  I'd much rather have preferred to stick in the box if I knew it would protect me from ridicule and bullying that has escalated the more I spend time outside the box.  People inside their boxes feel threatened by me (or so I'm told) and would rather I stop thinking the way I do, which is kinda impossible.

I can understand their perspective to a degree, I mean, there is definitely comfort in consistency and security that the box offers.  But..... not everyone is comfortable in the box..... so please, if you know someone who is an outside the box thinker, even if you don't always get where they are coming from, please don't make fun of, or ridicule, or bully them into believing they are wrong for the way they naturally think.  That doesn't help anyone.  And to be honest, it hurts.  A lot.  Because while questioning oneself can be a good reflection tool, when done from a critical perspective, it does more harm than good.