Connor Andrew Clark-Lindh

Being different is never easy... In school you will get picked on or bullied. In the office place you can be ridiculed or side-lined. In life you can suffer from depression and self-doubt. But the funny thing is - we are all different. Just some people try to meet some standard, while others try to be themselves.

But having an allergy or sickness can take away our ability to try and "fake" sameness. We have no choice. We can't tuck-it-in and act like we are in our own way is so important. These people with the same conditions, quirks or qualities as us, help us better understand and accept who we are.

Humans are social animals. We need people who understand and support us. And talking with someone in the same situation can often give a multitude of benefits. And it can be even better if that person or people have experiences, knowledge or advice to share.

It is not necessary to like everyone you meet. And chances are many of the people you meet once, you won't want to meet again... But there will be a few people who click.

And those people will start to form your social support network. Social because it isn't there to give you the professional advice required by your doctors, but is there to give you the emotional support needed to be yourself - different, unique and proud.