Brachydactyly

One of the most unexpected side-effects of the internet is the ability to make everyone realise “nope, I’m not the only person that does that”. If you think you have some weird body part, thought, or habit, chances are there is someone else who does that too.

Perhaps with time, the days of people being afraid to air their dirty laundry in public for fear of being ridiculed will disappear. People can stand up and say ‘I sometimes pick things up off the floor with my feet, and I am no longer ashamed, because YouTube and gifs on Tumblr have taught me that this is a common and wonderful skill!’

For example, I have a genetic condition known as ‘Brachydactyly’. You can google it if you like. Until recently, I thought I was a complete weirdo because I had a slightly strange finger. I assumed I had been crushed a little bit in the womb, and so it hadn’t grown properly. Even though it is hardly noticeable, it has always troubled me.

UNTIL NOW!

After some Googling and Wikipedia-ing (definitely a word), I found out that I have type D brachydactyly, sometimes fondly called ‘clubbed thumb’. It is actually a genetic condition affecting between 0.4% to 4% of the population. As I learned, it is particularly common amongst Isrealis and the Japanese.

I also learned that Megan Fox has brachydactyly. It's a pretty cool and exclusive club, I know.

As I researched more and more, I found other people with the same condition. Some people seemed to complain a lot, others joked about their condition. I even read about one person who had become a classical pianist despite having brachydactyly on many fingers. Personally, I simply found solace in the fact that I was not alone, and that I was one of a unique bunch of people with a relatively harmless genetic condition.

Because, I mean, let’s be honest, if I had to pick ONE genetic disorder to have, I’d pick this one. And despite years of being slightly self-conscious, the internet had given me courage to stand up and say ‘Yes, I have brachydactyly! And, even though it sounds like the name of a dinosaur, and even though it makes me really bad at thumb wars, it makes me unique and I like my thumb!’

My point is that, nobody is really that different. If you have something, someone else has it too. If you have thought something, someone else has already thought it.  

In a way, it’s pretty depressing. Because the flip side of the statement is essentially ‘any talents you have that impress those around you are also held by many, many other people’. Oh, you think you’re really good at picking things off the floor with your toes? Perhaps you occasionally whip out your skill at parties to impress (or disgust) your friends? Well, turns out you aren't special.

You think your blog is awesome and worth reading? Join the millions of other hopeful bloggers out there in cyberspace. * Sobs *

You think I'm saying people aren't different and special, but no, that’s not what I mean. You are special. Your bunch of physical and mental traits, yes it’s true, when viewed individually are uninteresting and common. But there is nobody out there that has the same unique combination of traits as you do. And that makes you unique.

If something about yourself gets you down, or you feel alone, just remember that you’re not alone. If you’ve felt it, someone else has felt it too.

We should all remember that we’re all in this life together (see: previous blog post), and when it comes down to it, we all want the same things. So if you’re feeling upset about a quirk, remember that you’re probably not alone!

And if you’re feeling great about your mad skillz: you probably don't want to look up your skill on the internet, because might just feel humbled to the point of sadness.

“Many people need desperately to receive this message: 'I feel and think much as you do, care about many of the things you care about, although most people do not care about them. You are not alone'.” –Kurt Vonnegut

the reckless philosopher