After months of being an absentee father, John’s dad returned and forced the then five-year-old John to choose what parent he wanted to be raised by.  John chose his mother and didn’t see his dad for 20 years.  Oddly, his mother then gave her sister custody of John.  John went on to become a member of the most famous band in history.  “There are no problems.  Only solutions,” was his take on success.

Lennon’s formative years were less than enviable to say the least.  However, it was what his teachers in high school had to say about him that amazed me the most.  Here is what they said:

“He has too many wrong ambitions and his energy is often misplaced,” and “His work lacks effort.  He is content to ‘drift’ instead of using his abilities.”

Well, I, for one, am glad John didn’t place a whole lot of stock in what his teachers had to say.  I believe the adversity he endured in his formative years gave him the strength to conquer the world.  Truthfully, his teachers just didn’t see his abilities.  They were too focused on turning him into who they thought he should be.

Adversity, though not enjoyable, is what molds us.  It makes us stronger, provided we choose to use it.  From the dark cocoon, a beautiful butterfly emerges.  It is the darkness that gives the caterpillar rest and time to grow into a butterfly.  It’s the breaking of the cocoon that gives it strength to spread its wings and fly.  Choose to use adversity to learn, grow and find the uniqueness in you.  

Here’s to a bright, bold, freaky Lennon coming your way.  Stay true to who you are:

“I’m not going to change the way I look or the way I feel to conform to anything.  I’ve always been a freak.  So, I’ve been a freak all my life and I have to live with that, you know.  I’m one of those people.”- John Lennon

Be one of those people.  Find who you truly are and know:

“When you do something noble and beautiful and nobody notices, do not be sad.  For the sun every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.” – John Lennon