I'm just going to say it. I don't like peanut butter. Never been a fan. I've come to terms with it, and the fact of the matter is that all the #hate I receive doesn't phase me anymore. Does it shock you?—That despite my many (many) amazing qualities, I have failed in perhaps one of humanity's most basic social compatibility tests? I know this may come as a devastating blow to some. Potential suitors, I hope you have not been put off. Go ahead, take it in. I'll give you a moment to catch your breath because I know it's a lot to process.
I hope that you don't see me any differently than you did before this revelation. I'm still me! But if you intend to shun me, now would be a healthy time (for both you and me) to end your reading. The rest of this post is clearly not meant for you. Have I rid myself of all things [i.e. people—and yes, I'm looking at you] negative? Great, now we can begin.
So I'm making the assumption that all those who are still with me here accept me despite my dislike of peanut butter. A personal thank you. Eternally grateful for the peeps who managed to overlook my flaw (I use that term ironically, of course- although some would definitely consider it a flaw). And I think we need more of that kind of attitude in our lives. As we go out into the world, we are going to encounter so many diverse kinds of people from all walks of life, and we need to hold enough compassion and decency in our hearts to be accepting of that reality.
Now I'd desperately like to believe that there is good in all people, and for the most part, I think that my faith in humanity is backed up by concrete evidence. In my give-or-take fifteen years of living on this earth, I have had the privilege of both witnessing and experiencing so many small miracles and random acts of kindness. You don't need a microscope to observe the little wonders that life has to offer us. We waste so much energy searching for reasons to be distrusting or skeptical or hesitant or disagreeable. And the whole issue with that mentality is that you will always find a reason to be unhappy if you do a little digging.
At face, most people are good. Sure, some of us harbor secrets and others omit the truth and the rest of us tell white lies because we think that will benefit us and others in the long run. But I think we all hold the power to see good in one another. We simply need to harness that goodness and use it to (if need be, pry) open our eyes to the facts:
➳ The fact that there is beauty in diversity.
➳ The fact that a contrast in opinion can open up an entire conversation and lead to new connections and new perspectives.
➳ The fact that differences shape us into the people we are.
➳ The fact that skewing the average is not only accepted but encouraged.
➳ The fact that being authentic adds color and excitement to what would otherwise be quite the dull life.
So apply this to your own life. That was a list of straight-up facts that might as well be scientifically proven. Don't doubt me. So now that I've provided you with said list, what are you going to do with the information? Don't you dare carry on as you did before, living your flat and un-carbonated life. Allow the information to seep into your pores and run through your bloodstream and strike your neurons (What did I tell you? Might as well be scientifically proven). Make a fizzing, spontaneous sparkling grape juice out of your life.
Do not allow little people with their little thoughts to obscure the truth: you don't ever have to see eye-to-eye with someone, but you can and should always make the conscious choice to be accepting of difference(s) in thought and view. It's easy to fall victim to the trap of choosing to focus only on what could potentially separate you from others. But rather than make it about yourself, take life as it comes and roll with the punches. For example, say someone you meet isn't a fan of peanut butter. However, you manage to set that aside and acquaint yourself with said individual to discover that s/he is, in fact, a fantastic person with interesting opinions and good humor and a new life perspective for you to consider. Opening yourself to weirdness and awkwardness and discomfort can do you a world of good. You just gotta make the shift and adjust yourself. You're still in control. Your thoughts are still your own. All you're doing is expanding them.
High school is preparing us to face the bigger world, outside our inner-friend circles and our cliques and our annual dances and our football games and our limited knowledge. With all that is going on in the world, life would be so much easier if we were simply more accepting and open to variety in people and ideas and views. So many of us have spent our entire lives viewing the world through our personal lens, not even once pausing to consider trying on someone else's for a change. It is so vital to our understanding and growth to take a step back and gain perspective. The world begins to noticeably shrink when we don't take the time to do that. If you are constantly nitpicking and waiting to pounce at the first sign of change or displeasure, you will lose yourself amidst your own toxic and constrictive thoughts. And good luck trying to find your way out. So save yourself the trouble, and do yourself and the world a favor: open your mind. Expand it so that it has the freedom to welcome foreign thought and unfamiliar concepts. Try on someone else's lens for a change. You might find you like the new view.
The world is irrefutably beautiful, and you know what makes it such a jaw-dropper? Diversity. The different layers in a sunset. The myriad of genres in a library. The vast number of painting styles in a gallery. The uniqueness of every single snowflake. The pattern in a rainbow. The intricacy from one butterfly to the next. The people who don't like peanut butter. Learn to appreciate the contrast, the shifting, the expanding, the evolution. Life is different and evolving and it is never still. Gradually, you will find yourself shifting with it. 🦋
Comments