Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

Eccentricity—a word that dances like fire on the tongue, full of spirit and boldness, yet often met with hesitation and fear. For generations, we have been taught to follow the rules, to conform, to walk the path laid out before us. Society whispers that we must live within the boundaries, that the only acceptable way to exist is to blend in, to be a part of the crowd. And yet, in the quietest corners of the world, a voice rises, echoing through the ages, urging us to break free from this chain of conformity: "Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple." These words, spoken by Regina Brett, call us to embrace our true selves, to step away from the herd, and to live boldly in the present.

But what does it truly mean to be eccentric? It is not the act of defiance for the sake of defiance, nor is it the pursuit of novelty without purpose. No, to be eccentric is to live authentically, to walk the road less traveled, to embrace the uniqueness that resides within each of us. To wear purple when the world tells us to wear gray. It is the courage to stand out, to show the world that we are not mere reflections of others, but individuals with our own voices, our own dreams, and our own ways of being. It is the freedom to create our own path, to seek joy and adventure in the moments others pass by in their pursuit of approval.

There is a tale in history that serves as a beacon of this very principle—a tale of daring and defiance. Let us turn our gaze to the life of Socrates, the philosopher who walked the streets of Athens, challenging the accepted norms of his time. Socrates was not concerned with fitting in, with adhering to the expectations placed upon him by society. He asked the hard questions, he spoke his truth, and he wore his eccentricity as a cloak of wisdom. The people of Athens scoffed at him, mocked him, and eventually sentenced him to death. Yet, in his final moments, Socrates remained true to his purpose, unfazed by the opinions of the masses. His legacy, though born of eccentricity, lives on, a testament to the power of authenticity and the refusal to succumb to the pressures of conformity.

What is the lesson, then, that we must carry forward from this wisdom? It is this: Do not wait for the years to pass, for the silver strands to appear in your hair, or for the weight of time to free you from the shackles of society's expectations. We must be eccentric now—in the fullness of our youth, in the vigor of our middle years, in the twilight of our days. Do not wait for old age to give you permission to live the life you desire, for the years are fleeting, and the moments that pass us by are lost forever. Wear purple now, in every sense of the word. Be bold, be daring, and most importantly, be you—not when the world gives you its approval, but right now, when your spirit still burns bright.

The call to eccentricity is not a call to reckless abandon. It is a call to live with purpose and passion, to honor the gift of life by embracing it fully. It is the courage to wear what others will not, to speak what others will not, to follow your own heart’s desire, no matter how strange it may seem to those around you. Purple, in this sense, is not just a color—it is the embodiment of all that is unique, bold, and unafraid. It is the vibrancy that we bring into a world that often seeks to dull our colors, to make us blend in with the crowd.

What can we do, then, in our own lives? We must ask ourselves: What is it that we are waiting for? Why do we hesitate to express ourselves, to live authentically? Perhaps it is fear. Perhaps it is the weight of expectations from those we love, from the society that surrounds us. But what we must remember is this: Time waits for no one. The years will pass, and if we do not choose to live boldly now, we may look back on our lives with regret, asking ourselves why we waited so long to wear purple, to dance to the rhythm of our own hearts.

So, take the first step today. Wear your purple, whatever form it may take. Speak your truth. Live the life that is uniquely yours. Do not wait for the permission of old age or the wisdom of years. The time is now. Your life is your canvas, and it is you who must decide what colors to paint upon it. Be eccentric now, for in doing so, you will find a freedom that no one can take from you, a joy that comes from authenticity, and a legacy that will echo for generations to come.