My granddaughter is so much like you, Shannon Ashley. Although she often moves quickly like a hummingbird when on her own timetable, she also moves like molasses when on someone else’s schedule. She floats about in her own mind, singing a favorite song, dancing to rhythms no one else hears, losing track of what is expected or demanded of her. She works slowly and deliberately, aggravating the adults who value speed. She’s intelligent, creative, extroverted, and highly social. Her world is different, unique, and entirely hers.

As one who reluctantly and perfectly adheres to the schedules and expectations of others, losing myself in the process, I admire and envy her independence and unwillingness to conform, even when she aggravates me. That’s when I pause and take a moment to appreciate the amazing nonconformist making me late again!