I love this Blog post from Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. It speaks to the part of me that wants to feel the good side of being a solitary/independent person.
The Beat of a Different Drum
Henry David Thoreau said, “If a man loses
pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different
drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured, or
far away.”
Not only is this great advice for dealing gently with what
other people want to do, say, or think, but these words are also about
our own self-reliance. Be sure you’re stepping to the music you hear—no
matter what other people think.
My understanding of the13th verse of
the Tao Te Ching is this: it’s crucial to remain independent of
both the positive and negative opinions of other people. If you gain
their approval, you’ll become a slave to outside words of praise. If you
gain disfavor, you’ll spend your life trying to change other people’s
minds about you.
Either way, you lose your selfhood. If you want to
follow your passion, be independent of the good opinion of others. Give
yourself permission to two-step, march, waltz, or boogie to your own
beat.
From: http://www.drwaynedyer.com/blog/the-beat-of-a-different-drum