Embrace Your Weird: Governor Cox’s Call To Keep Utah Unique

Governor Cox said that Utah needs to stay weird on January 18, 2024, in his State of the State address.

First, what does that mean weird?

Well, he says the things that make our state strong, things like being kind, trying to help each other looking to make opportunities for others are the things that have caused outsiders to call our state weird.

This was inspiring and started me wondering what else we could do to increase our weird factor. I don't know if this list would help, but here are some ideas:

Start wearing plaids and polka-dots together

Pick our noses more freely in public

Do you remember the American hip-hop duo Kris Kross? They wore their pants backward. That’s pretty weird, maybe in Utah we could all start wearing our pants reversed.

What are some ways Utah is weird in a less good way?

Worrying too much about being weird.

It seems like even as I write this I cringe because I don't want to stand out too much. I mean original, hard to follow, and trendsetting feels good, but I don't know about being too weird.

Thinking Utah is Weirder than it is

Anytime I hear someone trying to explain alcohol laws in Utah I feel this is on parade. I once listened to an embarrassed barista explain the barrier between the dining area and the bar. To my surprise, I found later that the same law existed in our alcohol-friendly neighbor state Nevada.

Being the aunt who too quickly follows her nephew's trends.

Stanley Cups, Fancy Drink stops, Gourmet cookies. Our ability to see a new trend and jump on it like a desperate kid trying to catch the trend might be a Utah trait that we could temper. You can do it, just maybe a little more nonchalant.

I hope we (very much me included) follow Governor Cox's challenge to find those things we do well that are good and embrace them fully. Standing out in an optimistic, helpful, city on a hill, weird sort of way.