I recently had a brief text conversation with an old friend wherein I ascertained that he was most definitely “one of a kind”. To which he responded cleverly, “Aren’t we all?”

Right.

I guess we, quite literally, are.

But then I got to thinking about the phrase itself. The compliment. The words we use to express to someone how much we appreciate their uniqueness. Their singularity. Their absolute different-ness from other people in our experience.

I mean, I suppose “one of a kind” could also signify abnormality. Peculiarity. Weirdness. But I think that in polite society we typically equate “one of a kind” with positivity.

Think about the people you know. Your friends, your family, your workmates and your hobby-buddies. How many would you classify as “one of a kind”? Yes, of course, everyone has special qualities and attributes we may appreciate or even quirkiness we enjoy. But in the grand scheme of your acquaintance, how many people genuinely merit the moniker “one of a kind”?

My guess is – not many. Like it or not, we do all tend to follow the pack. Stay with the pack. Be in the pack. With little desire to stand out in the spotlight. We like our comfort zones and even our anonymity. We probably would delight in being called “one of a kind”, we’re just not anxious to actually be it.

And that’s okay.

In a strictly scientific sense we are, of course, each – one of a kind. But in the more poetic realm the phrase is, and should be, high praise. I can say with complete sincerity that, the few times it has been applied to me, I have relished its significance.

Which brings me back to my old friend.

I might have thought the obvious reply to being christened “one of a kind” would be, “Thank you.” However, in our quick-witted, soundbite era, too often cleverness trumps courtesy. Or is it simply the fact that we all have a hard time accepting commendation?

Who knows? It might be a bit of both.

All I can suggest is – be who you are with conviction and confidence. And when someone commends you, just say thank you.

Grace isn’t always easy. But I do believe this: if more of us practice it, more of us will, in fact, become “one of a kind.”