People Are Fascinating

People are fascinating. There are just so many of us! Literally billions. While common experiences abound, each one of those lives is unique. While the circumstances of each life is wildly different, each one is as valid as the next. I often think about beautiful people, and how the most beautiful people in the world are likely unknown. We are presented beautiful people through mass media, but those are only the ones that want to be models, or actors, or who want to be known in some other way. The odds are that among billions, there are many extraordinarily beautiful people, just living their lives.

Likewise, there are those among us who are living extraordinary lives, and we just never hear their stories. People from all walks of life suffer, and how can we judge their suffering? Most of us feel joy, but we can't line up humanity in joy order. So I want to value my own experiences, not in comparison to others, but for the unique thing it is on its own.

Put aside the impulse to compare, evaluate, order and rank. There is always a place for striving, for goals and self improvement, but acceptance has to come first. It is a bit of a thrill to feel superior to others, but this is like candy for the mind, and relying on it for nourishment is unwise. So look around sometime and appreciate individuals without judgment, and love yourself without reservation.