What Makes a Person Unique?

Daily Prompt Reflection – by Laura Johnstone

Have you ever stopped to think—what makes me, me?

Today’s daily prompt invites us to reflect on what makes a person truly unique. And for me, the answer isn’t simple. It’s a beautiful mix of nature, nurture, and life experience, shaped by how our brains work—whether we’re neurotypical or neurodiverse.

We are all born with our own personalities, our own rhythms, and quirks. That’s the nature part. Then we’re raised in families, schools, and communities—this is where nurture plays its role. For some of us, being neurodiverse adds another layer of complexity, richness, and yes, challenge. And while all these factors help shape who we are, I believe it’s our life experiences that truly make each of us unique.

Personally, one of the biggest shifts for me happened during the 2020 lockdown. Like many others, I found the world slowed down, and for once, I didn’t have to mask. I didn’t have to pretend. I didn’t have to mould myself into what I thought others expected me to be. And in that stillness, I began to discover who I actually was.

Looking back at my childhood, I realise now how different I felt. I never quite fit in. I was often the target of bullying and struggled with reading. I was always a little more carefree, a little more childlike in how I saw the world. But over time, I learned to fit in. I learned to mask, to blend, to mimic. And somewhere along the way, I began to forget that being different was not a flaw—it was just me.

Now, as a parent—especially a neurodiverse parent raising a neurodiverse child—I realise how important it is to embrace our uniqueness. Not hide it. Not flatten it out to fit societal expectations. Our quirks, our ways of thinking, our creativity, and even our struggles—these are the things that make us human. These are the things that make us us.