Whenever I remember a dream upon rising that is always a sure sign that my spirit guides are trying to bring something new to my awareness. So imagine my bewilderment when the only two thngs that stuck in my head after a particularly vivid dream was a concern about tattoos and an overwhelming desire to know more about the Hunza people (an isolated ethnic group indigenous to the mountain region of Northern Pakistan known for their exceptional health and longevity). “Knocking on the door” of my main spirit guide in charge I waited for some insight on how this was going to tie together to make any kind of sense. I took three deep breaths, as is the case when I do dream interpretations. “Permanent distinctiveness,” he said firmly. “Huh?” I said. “This is an objective of your life while you occupy a physical body. You express the many facets of God by being permanently distinctive.” I was taking this all in as he continued, “The flip side being that by not honoring your distinct spiritual path and journey you have sidestepped the very reason you incarnated. Many of the challenges you all are facing on the physical plane flow from conformity- there is no new energy being introduced, just similar variations of gray.” This was all resonating pretty strongly with me so I stood by while the insights continued, “Anytime you voice relief (as you did when you got up this morning to verify you were not permanently ‘inked” as they say) at “dodging the distinctiveness bullet, the world is less bright because of it.” I then wondered about the Hunza part of the equation, knowing on some level that, they too, had long managed to practice distinctiveness due to their history. My guide picked up on this thread and concurred about their uniqueness and independence they had maintained all these years, “Sometimes you must step outside of the box to say something, to offer the broader society the gift you were meant to give,” he intoned. I thanked him and got to thinking that if we are made in God’s image, our unique expression (and how we show up, excel at our strengths and live as we are called to live) broadens our concept of who He/She really is. Conversely, when we choose to “dodge the distinctiveness bullet” and blend in with the crowd, an important aspect of our life purpose and our concept of God in the world is compromised. Given all this how comfortable do you feel with being your unique and distinctive self? What changes would you make if you consciously entertained the idea you are a needed expression of the Divine?