“As human beings, our job in life is to help people realize how rare and valuable each one of us really is, that each of us has something that no one else has–or ever will have–something inside that is unique to all time. It’s our job to encourage each other to discover that uniqueness and to provide ways of developing its expression.” – Mr. Rogers

 

 

In a world where comparison is as frequent as subzero temperatures in Chicago (I’m freezing right now), it is easy to feel lost in the crowd. How many times have you compared yourself to someone today? Whether it be looks, wealth, or status, our insecurities thrive in comparison. Comparison escapes the grasp of time, gender, culture, and age—it is everywhere.

 

Kids in high school lose self-worth when they don’t meet the cultural standard of a High School Musical character. Marriages deteriorate by unmet expectations of what “love” should look like. Even kids in a playpen compare the toys they have with one another. It is in our nature to compare. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and if comparison was a person, it would be serving a life sentence right now.

 

I like the quote from Mr. Rodgers so much because it turns the idea of comparison upside down on its ugly little head. What if, for once, instead of looking at our lives and thinking of what we don’t have, we looked at our lives in terms of what we do have? Mr. Rodgers uses the word rare to describe us. I can’t help but think of a giant ruby or diamond that is unique and valuable. We are rare, and we are unique by design! If we begin to look at ourselves as something worth being valued, and begin to view others in the same manner, our world would look drastically different.

 

That high school kid who lacks the frame and personality of Zach Efron would realize that he is made with intent and is equipped to do awesome things. Spouses in a deteriorating marriage would stop finding inadequacies and pointing fingers and instead “strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is,” as Mr. Rodgers said.

 

Here’s the dealio people: nine out of ten times people aren’t going to have a revelation and realize that they’re the bomb. We have to be the ones doing the encouraging and helping people realize that they are rare, talented, and valued. Instead of comparing yourself to others, find what makes you unique and embrace it.

 

 

Taylor