Square Peg In A Round Hole

Cut to shape; pound to fit; paint to match

I have heard this term used more than once in my engineering career, especially when ever a problem came up in a project. But I also think we try and use this creed when working with people that don’t exactly match our expectation or perception of how someone should act. We always think that life will be somewhat easier if everyone we interact with fit into the proper “shape” of the board of life.

In any given situation statistics will tell you that people will fit into a bell curve or the 80/20 distribution. Eighty percent of the people will fall in the middle, with 10% about and 10% below the mean. So what do we do with the 20%? We try and force them to conform and fit in with the 80%. My husband is always telling me about the time when he was real young and they had him do a test and sure enough he pounded the square peg into the round hole. No one could deny that he made it fit, but they also could never use that peg or that test piece again.

Often I find myself in that 20% group. I belong, but I’m just unique enough that no one really knows what to do with me or how best to use that uniqueness. I have come to celebrate my difference and accept the fact that I am an enigma to so many. I have tried to conform and act like others and it just doesn’t work, at least not for very long.

We all have unique quirks and characteristics and I Thank God for them. It would be a dull world if everyone was like me.

Song of Solomon 6:9