Think of the most beautifully wrapped gift you’ve ever received. Did it live up to the expectations you had after seeing the wrapping? Were you misled by the outward beauty and you felt let down by the gift inside?
Now think of your best friend. Are they a beautifully wrapped gift all the time? Just like everyone else they probably have a few wrinkles in their wrapping paper sometimes. Maybe their edges are frayed or the tape holding them together has lost its hold. Maybe their wrapping has lost its shine as they’ve gotten older. Does that make the contents any less vibrant? The answer is “no”.
Now think of a person you met that surprised you by their inner qualities. Not judging a book by its cover, or a gift by its wrapping, has led to some pretty interesting relationships. You may lose out on a particularly amazing gift of friendship if you concentrate on someone’s wrapping paper.
Look in a mirror. Are you always satisfied with your own wrapping paper? Mine loses its luster when I’m sick and my ribbons (hair) leave a lot to be desired most mornings. I work on my outer wrapping to assure others there is a lot to my contents. Granted, some days I leave the house in plain wrapping paper and other days in more ornate paper, but I am always aware that there are those who are judging me by my wrapping paper.
If we all had the same wrapping paper, by human nature it seems, we would find fault with someone’s ribbons not being curly enough, their edges not being crisply folded, their tape being less than sticky and the wear and tear making them less attractive.
In our human skin, wrapped beautifully in different colors, we tend to judge others by their wrapping paper decorations (tattoos, piercings, etc), the color (whether light or dark or any shade in between), how the wrapping is wrapped (clothes and accessories), the ribbons on top (hair styled in so many different styles – or none at all) mean nothing when we are trying to point out a person is different.
Why can’t we embrace diversity? A child will pick the biggest and most ornate gift set out on a table and be disappointed when there is only an inexpensive toy inside while another child that receives a gift wrapped in newspaper is grateful and surprised at the expensive item inside the wrapping. See with the eyes of a child that has not experienced greed or the socially accepted entitlement that seems to be rampant these days.
Everyone should be grateful for any gift, material or otherwise, and cherish the contents instead of looking for external differences to hold against the gift giver.
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Touch Your Nose and Hop on One Foot
Simon Says. Most have played this game in one context or another. It was fun when we were small and even into our preteen and teenage years. It was so fun to play with friends. Simon Says, take two steps forward … Simon Says, touch your nose … hop on one foot … awwwwww, if we hopped that sent us back to the beginning because Simon didn’t say hop on one foot. Lots of laughs mixed with some bad sports. After all was done another game was played or it was dinner time and playing would proceed later. Tag, Hide and Seek, bike riding, ding dong ditch as well as other games that didn’t require any game boards or playing pieces and rules that could be changed and made up as we went. Rules made up as we went adding to the basic rules agreed upon with all players.
Now we’re adults and the Simon Says that we play affects us, our families, our friends, our jobs and even our environment. It’s hard to jump when society and the government say we have to do exactly what is said and play by their rules. Written, unflexible rules. Rules that are needed to keep peace and direction. We elect people to stand for us and what we want as “rules”. Sometimes we have to play with rules we don’t agree with and sometimes we can agree to play by the rules set by the elected officials. This becomes a “trickle-up” theory as local officials answer to other officials that answer to other officials and soon our rules that we wanted enforced get lost under the umbrella of larger government bodies that have melted all rules to what they believe will be best for the people they represent. Not as simple as Simon Says anymore.
The Christian Bible states to follow the laws of the land. It also speaks of the evil that lies in wait for those who cannot recognize the disguises of evil. Are rules evil? Not in the least. They help to give guidance and consequences when broken. We need rules in society, at home and at work. It’s not the need of rules, but the rules themselves that bring out the good and bad in people.
The voting process allows us, as a people, to vote for the rules that we wish to have in place. Sometimes the rules we choose are not chosen by the majority and we have to follow the majority’s choice. Sometimes people get in the way and politics gets in the way. There have been times that evil has changed the true outcome and the chosen rules to satisfy some hidden agenda. This being said, the evil makes people not want to vote and have their voices heard for fear that evil will step in and instill rules that don’t have the majority vote. They think it doesn’t matter anyway so they keep their opinions stifled.
All the politics put aside … Simon Says is the most simple way to describe “rules”. Follow the rules and if you want to change the rules, do something about it when the times comes to change the rules and discuss the pros and cons. But, also as in Simon Says request the change of rules and be willing to accept the changes with grace and compromise.
Now, go change the world one “rule” at a time.
The Blade to the Wrist for Words
Sometimes writing is easy. Feelings and ideas melt into words on a page. Other times it’s like having to cut into a vein in the wrist to get anything to flow. But, that is the messy way things get strewn around on a page. This can also lead to a new idea plucked from the middle of the mess. There is no right or wrong way to write. Just write. The main problem I had was feeling I must edit as I go. This wreaks havoc on the story. I have learned through many outlets that just writing is the best way to start.
NANOWRIMO (National Novel Writing Month) in November has taught me a lot. The premise is to write 50,000 words in the month of November. No editing, no rethinking, just getting all the words in motion. The editing and rewriting comes later. The boldness it takes to just write without going backwards is fun and adventurous. I have cheated a little and made notes with asterisks to look back on when I edit. It may be an addition to a scene or a note to research a subject to add to the subject being discussed. This outlet has been the best way to get my direction and habits formed. I do have yet to get a good manuscript or type written story completed to my liking. But, I haven’t given up.
I have, once again, started a story. I have nicked my wrist and have strewn words on a page. This one nick is all I needed to get the idea for my story. I will continue to dedicate time daily to this story. Just writing. Editing later, but continuously strewing words on the page whether easily or by a quick nick. I look forward to finishing this one and then cleaning it up later. I look forward to getting words on a page. No, I look forward to getting words on pages until I am done.
I will post my progress whether good or bad. My process. My wins and my losses. Hopefully, my journey can help someone else get direction as I have.
Drop a comment if it helps you or if you have any helpful information!
“A book is a dream you hold in your hand.” ~ Neil Gaiman
I Am Betsilyn 