Dear Jessica Brennan,
You have always had a natural knowing that everyone is special. In fact, you should likely be writing this blog post.
Your view aside though, many people struggle with this concept of us all being equally worthy. It is as though some people think that if we are all special, then they are less special. If everyone has opportunities, they lose something. If we all have the right to the same standard of living, education or love and respect, it is reducing the value of what they have.
This I suppose is at the root of the equation of greed. The worthiness of others must not be equal to or greater than mine.
We dissect this specialness very keenly and it starts with comparison. Who has the nicer car? Who has the better job? Who is older, younger, stronger, thinner, better looking, more cool?
And we start young. Where do you go to school, live, shop, holiday? What do your parents do? Are you good at sports, music, art?
Are you more special than I am? Am I more special than you?
The answer is, as predicted, that we all have special things to offer, and I would submit that finding those sometimes well-hidden special nuggets in others is the most gratifying mining expedition you can go on. If you can show another human being how to celebrate their best traits, it is even better and while you’re doing that, you can’t help but find the hidden gems within yourself too.
In the end we all must decide if we want to scrape and climb to make ourselves feel more special than others. Of course if we are scraping and climbing to be more special, then truly we aren’t; special that is. We are instead, spending all of our days judging and comparing and feeling insecure.
I will end where I started.
You have always had a natural knowing that everyone is special. In fact, you should likely be writing this blog post. I’m so glad that I didn’t have to teach you all this. I’m sure you wish that you didn’t have to teach me some of it. I love how you can see the good and the special things in others without feeling diminished by them. That is a rare and profound gift.
Stay humble and kind.
Love,
Mum xo
