Have you ever felt like you didn’t belong? Maybe you showed up somewhere underdressed. Maybe you moved to a new school where you didn’t know anybody. Perhaps you were the victim of bullying. There are lots of reasons we can feel out of place, misunderstood, or unwanted and it’s never a very fun experience. So, what can we do when we feel that way? Today we have stories that share a few ideas about that and suggest that being different isn’t such a bad thing. They’re all about being different, trying to fit in, and figuring out that being true to oneself lets you find your place regardless of where you are. We’ll hear stories from Motoko, in which her son must confront racism because he is of Japanese descent. Charlotte Blake Alston tells the tale of Anniko, who finds herself being rejected by one man because she is different from the rest of the community. In another story, “Romeo and Juliet Gone Wrong”, Kerry Soper recounts his efforts to be seen as cool despite his terrible costume in the school play. Finally, Lani Peterson tells a story of what she views as a foolish coyote, only to realize later that he found his place in the stars. 

On today’s episode, enjoy the following:

“The Cost of Racism” by Motoko from Tales of Now & Zen (12:13)

We are often frightened of change. Of difference. It can be uncomfortable, and we often don’t understand it. So it comes as a surprise that change is, more often than not, a good thing. Unfortunately, differences often lead to racism, bullying, and other discrimination. Storyteller Motoko’s son confronts such a situation in the following story at one of his sports camps and Motoko remembers a time when she also felt the pain of discrimination.

“Anniko” by Charlotte Blake Alston from The Raccoon Story (10:31)

Do you know anyone that is struggling to find their place or that doesn’t seem to fit in as well as everyone else? An important question to ask is how can we help those people? How can we be their friend? This is especially important if there are others making them feel bad for their differences. The story of Anniko takes place in a village where everyone looks the same except for one young girl. One man finds her differences unnerving and decides to take it into his own hands to get rid of her.

“Romeo and Juliet Gone Wrong” by Kerry Soper (10:28)

Being cool in school. It’s a classic conundrum faced by millions every year. Who are the popular kids? What do they think of you? We’ve all asked those questions before. Well, Kerry Soper was no different. He found himself in a play about Romeo and Juliet and his costume was not his favorite. To save face, he makes a plan with another actor, but things quickly get out of control.

“Dancing with the Stars” by Lani Peterson from Stories Within (11:20)

We’ve talked a lot about ways to fit in on this episode. However, finding your place does not always mean fitting in. Sometimes it can mean the complete opposite. In the next story, a coyote decides to live his dream. He decides to dance with the stars, and although he might have been ridiculed, hurt, and considered a failure, another perspective is that he succeeded in his dream and that he accomplished more than anyone else because he was willing to try.

Radio Family Journal: "Heisman" (4:52)

All these stories about 'fitting in' leads Sam to reflect upon a family memory about his brother.