My personal experience with this is that there is no such thing as ‘normal.’ Everyone is individual but most people in our lives flow through life in the same current, ticking boxes as they go along to ensure they meet the expected criteria. Those of us on the edge of the current take a slightly more turbulent journey, testing our boundaries, exploring opportunities, trying, failing and succeeding all at the same time.
Throughout my life I have often been referred to as bohemian and although at first I was not sure I really liked being referred to in this way. As time has passed and I have become more aware of who I am and the value I give to society, I see it as a compliment. I still receive sideways looks from some mainstreamers when I tell them what I am working on, particularly with projects where I take items that they would consider to be rubbish and turn them into a functional statement piece. I know that they don’t get it… but that’s okay. One day they might! Eventually the mainstreams catches up with innovators and embraces what was once a ‘new idea’ meanwhile the innovators move onto the next stage in their development working on the next idea!
If bohemianism is about engaging in unconventional practices and those unconventional practices encourage innovation which then set a new direction for the mainstream, then I see a need for bohemians. If there were no innovators in society then who would challenge thinking and set new directions for the mainstream?
