When I was in eleventh grade, I was given a creative writing assignment to write about something, anything, that I undoubtedly believe. As I sat there thinking, I couldn't come up with a single thing I knew was true for every person regardless of background, race, education, and social class. I could hardly turn in a paper about how I believed in nothing, so I continued thinking. After putting far too much effort in to this silly assignment, I realized that I believe every person has a lesson to teach. Even after 3 more years of experience, I am still certain that this is true. Here is how I see it.
Our lives are filled with people. Some we know well and some we've just met; maybe even some we wish we'd hadn't met at all. If we take a closer look, perhaps at our best friends, we might see what they bring to the table. My best friend is a ridiculous person. He's always up for anything, full of life and ready to prove the world wrong about him. He is without a doubt one of the most positive parts of my life. Without him, I would hardly know how to be as supportive as I am. I wouldn't know how to set my own judgments aside and give people my full attention when they are in need. Most importantly, I wouldn't know what it meant to love someone unconditionally or to be loved in return.
An other example would be that girl I see everywhere on campus. I don't even know her name. The only thing there is to say is that she is always smiling. Each time I walk by her, she sends a smile in my direction, and once in a while, she will even wave at me. What on earth is this happy girl teaching me? It's about the kindness of strangers. In a world where things are constantly going wrong, I can still count on a few upbeat people to brighten a bad day. If anything, she is teaching me that a smile goes a long way.
Even the boy who broke my heart has taught me several lessons. He showed me how to let people in, to trust and to be open to change. His open arms were always waiting when things started to fall apart, and I know that is a quality that is required to be part of my life. I also learned to rely on myself and my own strength. While it is so wonderful to share your life with someone and I would love to still have that, it is not necessary to be happy. I also know that I am blessed to have had him for as long as I did, and I appreciate the time we shared.
The truth is, though, that not everyone has a positive lesson. Still, it is a lesson all the same. Perhaps, they teach you what you do NOT what to be like or they show qualities that need to be eliminated from your own character. Maybe these people are around to teach us to fill our life with positive light and to be a positive light in the life of someone else.
Regardless of the lesson, everyone brings something to the table. As I am figuring out who I am in the world, I know that I never want to stop giving back. I am grateful for all the people who have been part of my life and given to me. I once heard someone say, "I am a mosaic of all those I have encountered." We take pieces of everyone who has crossed our path and we incorporate them into ourselves. For this reason, the ones we love are always with us, supporting us, and helping us become exactly who we are meant to be.
 | |
| With a little help from those around me, I am something Beautiful |
No comments:
Post a Comment