I was reminded several times this week that I am a geek. Most of them were the nice, friendly types of reminders like “dude, you’re such a geek!”

A few however were almost pitying in nature. More like “Wow, you’re kind of a geek.” I expected them to offer me the phone number for a support group and recommend a clothing catalog or something.

I certainly am a geek and I’m not ashamed of that fact. It’s not just that I’m good with technology but I enjoy technology very much. I’ve long since embraced this part of my life and put it to good use. I’ve got a job working with computers, I run a website dealing with technology, I’ve got a technology consulting business and I collect gadgets like no body’s business. If you’ve got geek tendancies, rather than fight them and try to fit the norm that society seems to impose on many of us, causing you to live a double life, step out of that server room and enjoy your own qualities.

After all, we can’t all be David Hasselhoff, singing our hearts out as the Berlin Wall comes crumbling down or chumming about with chatty cars, beach buddies and supernatural creatures of the night. Not all of us are equipped to be the Hoff. We certainly don’t all know that America really does have talent, nor would all of us be able to make split second decisions about just how talented Americans are.

Hoffness may be out of reach of many of us. That’s no reason to despair however. Many of us wouldn’t want to be David Hasselhoff. Take the percentage of readers our there who are female. Sure, some of them may want to be near the Hoff, (heck, I want to be near the Hoff) but how many of them would actually want to be David Hasselhoff? I’m betting very few.

The next time someone derides you for not being a buff lifeguard or having a massive fan following in Germany, accept the fact that you’re not only not David Hasselhoff, but you’ll never be David Hasselhoff. You’re yourself and you’re going to have to make that work because it’s the only you you’ll ever be.

Embrace your qualities, enjoy your talents and find people who will not just accept you but enjoy you for who you are.

Oh and David, if you’re reading this, could I have your autograph?