So Different. But Very Much Alike.
(A three-minute read)“Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.”~Margaret Mead
We’ve all heard a person described as “one-of-a-kind.” Or, someone might say, “they broke the mold when they made her.” The truth is that could be said about every single one of us! The number of possible mathematical combinations of traits and characteristics in the DNA cocktail is infinite. That means it is totally impossible for any other person that has ever lived or anyone who will ever be born to be exactly like us. No one! Think about that!
The incredible diversity of human beings always captivates me. Everyone is so different! People come in a dizzying number of variations when it comes to size, shape, color, talents, tendencies, and temperaments. It’s fascinating to observe a steady stream of people going about their business in a busy setting like a big airport and wonder what stories are being lived in their lives. Every single one has a tale to tell!
I recently read a post by Seth Godin who just might be one of the most intriguing thinkers I’ve ever encountered. The article was entitled “Seeking Sonder” and he began with this definition, “Sonder is defined as that moment when you realize that everyone around you has an internal life as rich and as conflicted as yours.” Sonder had me running to the dictionary where the word does not yet exist. I’ve been noodling about our sameness and our differences, our uniqueness and our connectedness ever since. The two-sided nature of our existence makes my thoughts swirl like tango dancers.
“All things are connected like the blood that unites us. We do not weave the web of life, we are merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.” ~ Chief Seattle
We’re All the Same Kind of Different
Once again, I have fallen into the pages of a book. The Same Kind of Different as Me is riveting. And now, it’s a motion picture. It’s the true story of a deep friendship between people living radically different lives. Their relationship is remarkable, to say the least. It happens when a former sharecropper, ex-con, homeless man meets a wealthy art dealer who travels around the world catering to collectors with no limit on their spending ability. (I haven’t finished the book yet. I’m savoring every page before I see it on the big screen.) Bottom line: it’s about the power we each have to make a difference and change the world for the better.
And yet, despite all of our uniquenesses, we all share one commonality. Each and every one of is born and will pass through a finite existence on this planet. Eventually, we’ll all die and become a part of eternity. Not a single one of us knows how much time we have in our life. There’s a little hyphen between the year of our birth and year of our death on our tombstone. You might have heard it called “the dash”. What will we do with ours? We could spend a lifetime working on it and we should! It’s a question worth chewing on thoughtfully.
“Everyone’s time is limited.What matters most is to focus on what matters most.”~Roy T Bennet
It’s delicious to think about life and all the complexities it affords. That’s why I encourage you to “see life with new eyes.” When you decide to go deeper into discovering the richness, the wonder and the possibilities life holds you’ll never have a moment of sameness or boredom or ho-hum again. I’m here to take you on that field trip! Why not come along for the ride?
I’ll see you all again Monday!