It's hip too be square

It’s hip to be a square. No, it really is. Brainiacs are the new cool kids in school, replacing those pesky mean girls, football jocks and wannbe-cool Danny Zukos.

And you know what? I couldn’t be happier about this long-awaited shift in “power.” As the song goes, it’s a new dawn and a new day. And yes, it’s got me feeling oh-so-very good.

You see, in a true battle, brains will always beat out brawn. It’s just the natural order of things, really, and society is finally catching on to its natural leanings. Shows like CBS’ The Big Bang Theory and FOX’s new break-out, sing-along, tap-your-toes hit, Glee, are teaching a whole new generation a life-altering lesson: It’s OK to let your true self shine. It’s cool to unleash your inner geek.

This is actually something I already knew. Quite well, actually. I called this up-and-coming trend six months ago. Actually, it was more like two years ago when I began to see the creatures coming fast and furious out of hibernation. At first, they were few in number, and stood in small clusters together; maybe they were scared of this new world or something. Before long, I began to see them everywhere: on the street, in restaurants, in bookstores and of course, at Best Buy – a place I suppose is the equivalent of the Bat Cave. Their own headquarters of sorts.

They were no longer afraid to slink in the dark shadows.

And, of course, I just had to smile. Because for my entire life, I’ve been one of them. I’ve never pretended to be the traditional sort of “cool,” something I always thought was a bit boring, to be quite honest.

I suppose I learned this lovely lesson from my father. He was the classic “nerd.” He carried a pocket protector. He loved watching specials on The History Channel (he had a weakness for dinosaur stories). And he could usually be found staying up late at night poring over his school books, a look of excitement crossing his face as he approached each math problem or chemistry equation as if it were a Sudoku puzzle.

But his secret was that he made what others deemed downright uncool look downright awesome. And it was.

So when I find myself taking on his old habits – I love to organize my pens and pencils, for one – I just have to smile. Because I think it’s cool. And for the record, I fell in love with Sudoku long before the rest of the world caught the puzzle bug. I can finish those things in record time.

Then when these so-called “nerd” shows comes along, we couldn’t help but be instantly hooked.

The bottom line: we’ve learned a thing or two from these shows and their loveable characters (I challenge you to watch an episode of The Big Bang Theory and try to resist falling in love with Sheldon. It’s darn-near impossible). They do what they love. They do what makes them happy, whether it’s singing or painting or sports or competing in physics bowl championships – again, consult Sheldon on this one.

They don’t care what the rest of the world has to say. If you ask me, that’s moxie right there.

So, to all you fellow “geeks” out there, I raise my pocket protector in a nod of solidarity to you all.

Smart and individuality, just like rock ‘n roll in the ‘50s, is definitely here to stay, just as it should be.