"There is no true genius without a touch of madness." -Robin Williams

"Even at the moment of your failure. You are beautiful. You don't know it yet but you have the ability to reinvent yourself, endlessly."

you know what they say the most damaged people are the wisest

I expected this to be a sort-of "everyone's a special snowflake everything about you is special blah blah" talk- but it really wasn't. It was simply the encouraging words of a woman who has felt out of place in the labels she's felt she needed to take on. Honestly, I think everyone has felt at one time or another what this woman describes. Just yesterday I was talking with my mom about how I feel odd because I'm not doing the things I "should be doing" for someone my age. I get so easily distracted by what others are doing, and what others think about what I'M doing. I so often feel like a misfit. So I am grateful for this TED talk. "Your story deserves to be heard, because you rare and phenomenal misfit you, new species, are the only one in the room who can tell the story the way you would." I'll keep this in my heart.

"You can reinvent yourself endlessly." Love that quote!

As a 46 year old working in a convenience store, I'm watching this with tears in my eyes - sometimes all you do is choke on that voice your story will never get. Not that it's such a big loss for mankind or anything. What a brave, beautiful woman, so willing to admit her humble beginnings, and what a gorgeous flower she blossomed into, despite all that.

"Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels...". Thank you for such an inspiring and genuine talk. Thank you.

- "And the dream of being a writer was really kind of like a small sad stone in my throat!" Wow! Honestly this lady's speech touched the strings of my heart that I can't describe how deep it felt 💖

This is pure GOLD. I understand every word. My favorite TED talk yet. Bless.

omg I fuckin cried. saving this to watch later for those moments when I think I don't deserve to be happy.

This talk summarized: Wherever you are in life, you've got comeback power. A setback is a setup for a comeback.

This made me cry at the realization of my story's potential

I feel I am a misfit too.. I am 20 years old and today I myself distroyed my opportunity to graduate by not writing my exams. The thing which I learned by now is that we don't have cure for our problems.. they simply haunt you and when times come when you feel okay and then you keep on digging on your past and re Kindle those pain. And now the root issue is that even being a misfit and even after knowing that moving on and doing things will make you stronger.. we tend to stuck ourself, we keep this sense of hopelessness when hard times hit us. Maybe that's life. It's altogether a different world than we expected or as we assumed it to be. But yeah today, I would like to thank you for healing me, for making me feel something worth.

What a courageous woman!! This is truly inspiring and eye-opening.. Unfortunately, we never really pay attention to the people around us who are struggling. Just because we dont know their story doesnt mean they dont have one.

i thought i'm lonely in this tiny part of the world who have this sense of misfitting but it turned out that a lot like me and they seek just for a voice to bring their story out of their throat

I'm really glad I took the time to watch this. I have no idea if you'll read these comments, but I have endless respect for you already, for managing to get back on your feet. We're not defined by our mistakes or our misfortunes, but rather the person that we become after all is said and done. And you seem like a pretty great person.

Feel so out of place in this world and like I don't deserve to be happy, thank you for this talk. :(

Wow, touching stuff. As a former homeless, ex alcoholic, recovering heroin addict, that was so moving. Thank you Lidia Yuknavitch and TED.(Only came here after hearing about this talk in one of her books I've just started.)

I can relate to this. You feel like you're on the periphery of life observing everything that's going on around you, but you can't put a voice to it. You're spinning your wheels trying to figure out why you're the odd man out all the time. There's a certain beauty in that process of self-discovery. You take those horrible moments in your life and try to put a positive spin on them so you can come out the other end a stronger person. Like the saying goes, what doesn't kill you will make you stronger.

her story is so beautiful

I loved this. I think everyone can, at least a little bit, identify with being a misfit in some way. We tend to value conforming to cultural norms rather than encouraging odd individuality. Sometimes one's entire life can be changed by embracing that which makes them a misfit, rather than tucking it away in order to fit in. I guess this is just a fancy way of saying "be yourself."

Such powerful words: “how many times I had to reinvent a self from the ruins of my choices”. 🤘🤘🤘

i LOVED how everyone stood up at the end, such a great talk!

The one TED talk I keep coming back to. I love that woman and her writing. She has saved me more than once, and keeps on doing so

So this totally made me cry. Wasn't until right near the end there, but it got me. I still don't know what I want or what to do and I'm at a point in my life where I'm starting to feel the pressure (mainly from myself, I will admit) to have it 'figured out' or have a 'passion' or a 'dream'. I don't even know how to dream. I was asked 'if you had unlimited resources, if there were no limits and you knew you would succeed, what would you do?' and I sighed and frowned and thought a lot and all I said was 'I don't know'. I'm hoping I figure it out in my own way soon, I've still got a bit of re-inventing to do.

i love this. Even when you fail, you are still beautiful. You always have the opportunity to change yourself. You can give yourself the opportunity to be proud of yourself. This is your beauty.

This made me cry..

Lidia Yuknavitch your an amazing person..

I love her voice, her lack of conformity, she doesn't have familiar social quirks, she speaks true.

My favourite ever TED talk from one of my favourite authors. I keep coming back to this talk, and it never fails to make me nod, and cry, and feel comforted. Such beauty, such fragility.

I'm so grateful I've seen this today. I'm socially awkward, so it's great to know I'm not alone. Thank you so much.

I cried. And there's nothing to be ashamed of. Not even being ashamed of things or ourselves sometimes. Thanks for this, this was beautiful. ♥

Thank you Lidia you beautiful angel! I have been a misfit all my life and still to this day so I appreciate what you went through and your story is precious to me! God bless 💝

Wonderful, had me tearing up and I usually hate everything on youtube.

I'd like to write something witty now, but tears blur my sight. Thank you, Lidia!

This could have been my mother, who I never understood as she lived a life like this, away from us. As I got older I came to really respect her bravery for living the life she wanted in a way that only she understood. Great talk

I cried all the way through, the writing is beckoning me from within. I'm inspired by the spirit of your courage and strength. Namaste

This is so painful. There is nothing I can do to repress my tears, my groans. I'm gasping. Oh God, I've never cried so hard. What is this?

Lidia, this ripped me wide open. Filleted my rib cage to let my cries out. I have plenty of tears as a 40 year old misfit with CRPS. Most days I just want to die. I’ve never written that. Or even muttered it aloud. But it’s the truth. This TED Talk just bought me some more time. Time to put my voice to my stories, my poems, my misfit melancholia. I cannot begin to thank you enough, Lidia. Truly. I also should thank the University of Oregon teacher I had before my big 40th birthday diagnosis of complex regional pain syndrome, who had put Dora: A Headcase on her syllabus. And who treated me like the nontraditional student I was. Because she encouraged the words I hold so dear. And she encouraged the reading of other misfits outside of my invisible circle. And I couldn’t be happier today. For just this long wordy moment. I’m about to start reading The Misfit’s Manifesto. I just need to get up, medicate for my pain, and then go outside and scream at this beautifully overcast Eugene autumn afternoon as my way of saying THANKS to the Universe for leading me to this TED Talk. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

"You rare and phenomenal misfit. You new species, are the only one in the room who can tell the story the way only you would, and I'd be listening."

When she said she's a mother now, I almost cried

Should be required listening in every English class.

"and I kind of went deaf. has this ever happened to you?" Lidia's the best

It is not a TED talk but a story from this woman. Everyone gets to tell his story of being a misfit. How great your story is to tell!

"we are nothing without each other." Well said

I forgot about the title and while I was listening to you I thought that this was something full of beauty, and then I rode the title and yes, this is pure beauty.

this was one of the best TED talks of all time

I think who feels like it`s a misfit should no more desire to fit and all the world will seem different. We sould learn to love ourselfs just the way we are and never again seek approval from others. Like she said don`t use the highway of the world, just set a destination and walk your own path to there!

I am a misfit. Thank you for this wonderful talk

Truly touched by this talk, such bravery, such heart laid bare. Thank you beautiful misfit - you are a rare force. Thank you for allowing us the privilege to see your soul shine. Incredibly inspiring. I'm moved to tears.

I love her clothes... I wish I had more courage to wear it by myself...

There are no failures. The fact that you are alive, viewing this video, reading this comment, means that you are an extremely rare and precious thing. I could not imagine a bigger success.

I think to truly fit in, you first have to know yourself, and what your values are. People connect over a shared value system.

This was amazingly beautiful speech. I feel that usually people who have greater ability of empathy are usually misfits. In today's society unfortunately isn't enough empathy and yes as Lidia said this world need misfits as we are the ones that care and bring creativity and peace onto the world.

I don't know if she would ever read this, but just in case: "Thank you, I really needed to hear this, from the bottom of my misfit heart, THANK YOU".

This talk inspired me to get outta bed and go to class, thank you 💜

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!! This just came at the right time for me...AI knows my nightmares. :] ive dreamed last night, how there were groups in the classroom, and i excluded myself for not being the happiest,pretty one..for not having a calm and loving family. I had this fever dream about exclusion, when i felt guilt tripped cause i laughed, and i was happy. I was working as a maid in central europe since i was ten. In my dream i knocked too early in the morning in a friends Doors, they didnt know it was me, and just with a cold voice said " natalia will give you the keys for the entrance!" Natalia was the artist of their family. -------------- 🕊🕊🕊

I love simple ted talks like this. It definitely made me cry. You're amazing.

man why do ted talks make me cry? i feel so light and free and good after watching them. the moment she said "who am i to go to newyork" i started to think how i have said things like those to myself bc of things i am not in control of i started crying bc i realised how this woman realised that its wrong to say that about yourself . these people are getting past all the superficial ideas and thoughts. theyre amazing

One of the best TED talks I've heard.

Awww Im going to cry! What an amazing human being

The last line was heartfelt.

Oh WOW! I can relate to this story so much. All my life, I have always MISsed FITting - anywhere but especially with myself. I'm now trying to to heal that. Thank you so much for sharing your story 💕

i needed this today. the "and i'd be listening" was everything. such courage, such realness, and so raw. thank you

i cried ..your words touched my heart

You've touched on something so deep. Hope springs eternal. Never give up. Thank you so much for sharing.

"And I'd be listening" you beautiful person you, thank you.

What doesn't kill you gives you good story ideas.

Best Ted Talk EVER!!

I don't have the book on hand but I'm pretty confident she delivered an entire chapter from her memoir verbatim, it's just tickling that remembering in my brain. Or maybe the chapter from her memoir is verbatim this talk that she's given.

This is so inspiring. someone who truly lived a life that wasn't normal and still stayed true to themselves through it all shows me I can do the same. Us misfits are special in every sense of the word. we have so many obstacles in our lives yet we still maintain and never change who we are. the world needs more misfits. we are living proof that you don't have to "fit in" to be successful in life, because we have ourselves to turn to. and for a misfit that's all we need, we dream of acceptance but never really need it, and I never realized that until now. thank you for doing this speech. you've taught me alot in 13 minutes.

Wow...really goes to show how much of an impact early life experiences can have on people. What an amazing person o_o.

This touched my heart so deeply. She found the words to what I always felt. I didn't knew there are people feeling like me out there. And I'll surely will follow her advice and tell the story so that I would be saved. Thank you.

I wanna thank Lidia for such encouraging speech and example of life. Life has its beauty and miracle hidden in each one of us. Congratulations!

So touching....specially that last part...thanks for giving a great speech

wow... what a speach - thank you :)

This was just beautiful. I'm in tears. Thank you.

Amazing speech, tahnk you for sharing a part of yourself. Reinventing oneself, there is no greater feeling than the exhilaration of victory.

This spoke to me in many ways, absolutely beautiful speech with such a heart warming message! what an amazing lady

I love her dress!

Christ, had me welling up at the end. That was awesome and I can relate to so much of that.

What a beautiful, strong, and inspiring woman! This got me crying. Thank you!

What a beautiful, compassionate soul.

Thank you, this brought me to tears

This hit sooo hard, im in tears. Amazing!

The message she brought here has a key that most people miss in life. Being an outsider, outcast or a misfit is being unique, not a trend but that's not the message here. The message here is life will bring you circumstances whether good or terrible. You can even hit rock bottom by the worst circumstances. But the key here is to GET UP even if it's by doing baby steps, you have to GET UP. People might come and try to help you get out of things that have come without a choice like grief and loss, or by the wrong choices you have made, but at the end of the day it's UP to YOU to GET UP and use those terrible circumstances to your advantage. Very profound message.

Deeply touching - from a fellow writer (Copywriter & Poet) and lifelong misfit

Thank you! I REALLY needed this!

We're a couple of misfits, what's the matter with misfits? That's where we fit in!

This actually kinda made me cry alittle at the end... Good talk

Dear Lidia, thank you for sharing your unabashed journey with a kind and self accepting heart.

Loved it! Spoke to my heart. I could feel that stone when she spoke.

Thank you for coming to this stage and telling your story.

I could listen to this a thousand times & be inspired each & every time I hear it. I cannot begin to express or elaborate exactly how much I appreciate your story or why it touched my heart in a way I didn't expect. However, what I can say is thank you & your story is amazing & yes, I was listening... Not just hearing...I was listening intently! My wish, is that I might somehow absorb, even a tiny bit of your abundant courage & strength & hold it close enough, that I might just be a little more like you... the one you branded, "Misfit"... Idk?...Everything I heard resonated inside my ears as "Perfect Fit." Thank you for sharing your life & your story. I'm so honored to have heard it.

Wow you! Not only am I impressed with your style of verbal communications within dezcriptions and comparisons, but I am proud of your journey which inspires a part of us all.

Thankyou Lidia you inspire me to continue. Thankyou

This made me cry

Seen a lot of ted talks, this is the first one that made me cry

I understand this so well. The rare moments I'm happy and privelaged and ruin it by feeling I don't deserve it or can't have it. I'll never ask for help because my personality doesn't allow it. I self sabotage. It's my nature.

I can`t believe that she could bear out so much grief in her life. I wish her to be happy. Nice woman. Cool talk!