Everyone wants to fit in, to feel like they belong. But finding a group that accepts you for who you are can be one of life’s greatest challenges. That’s why the internet is loving this poem written by a 10-year-old boy with Aspergers.
When he was assigned to write an “I Am” poem for school, Benjamin wrote a heartfelt piece about how he feels “odd.”
Here’s the full poem:
“I am odd, I am new
I wonder if you are too
I hear voices in the air
I see you don’t, and that’s not fair
I want to not feel blue
I am odd, I am new
I pretend that you are too
I feel like a boy in outerspace
I touch the stars and feel out of place
I worry what others might think
I cry when people laugh, it makes me shrink
I am odd, I am new
I understand now that so are you
I say, “I feel like a castaway”
I dream of a day that that’s okay
I try to fit in
I hope that someday I do
I am odd, I am new”
The internet was touched by Benjamin’s beautiful words, sharing the post over 36,000 times. People were quick to remind him that everyone in this world is odd — that’s what makes life interesting.
While fitting in can be hard enough for all of us, living with Aspergers makes relating to those around you that much more difficult. Benjamin was incredibly brave to share his feelings. Hopefully, his story will serve a reminder that no matter how different some people may seem, at the end of the day, we all just want to be loved.
h/t Distractify
