How Beautiful the World Would Be if We Accepted People Like Crayons
Welcoming and Celebrating Our Fabulous Diversity
A few years back, when adult coloring books were all the rage, I picked up a few. I enjoy coloring — and at the time, I desperately needed hobbies that could help me unwind and de-stress.
As life would have it, I haven’t used those books too much because circumstances have changed so drastically that I’m not so much in need of forced relaxation. Thank goodness!
That’s not to say I don’t relax. Nice weather invites walking, biking, gardening; with the winter months, I turn more to jigsaw puzzling and leisure reading. From time to time, I still pull out the crayons. And this week, I stuffed a book and crayons into my travel bag.
Each morning, I’ve sat by the window overlooking the San Diego Bay, meditation music playing in the background — to enjoy a morning smoothie, take my supplements, and color.
Crayons, Colors, and Celebrating Variety
As I flipped through the book before packing up today, I was struck with an awareness.
I’ve used the same box of crayons for all the Mandalas I’ve colored over the years — and yet they appear so completely different. They are all the same basic shape — circular. They have the same 24 color options.
Yet, they are totally different — evoking a different impression on me as I gaze.
AND aren’t people just like that!
Yes, we have different experiences. We come from different traditions, customs, practices. We don’t all share the same language, eat the same foods, or enjoy the same activities.
But aren’t we made up of the same basic elements? Aren’t we all human — made up of the same physical building blocks of cells and tissue? Aren’t we all combinations of body, mind, spirit? Do we not share the same basic needs and desires?
Do we not all hunger and thirst, need warmth from the cold, resist hurt and pain? Do we not feel joy, hope, sadness, grief, anger, fear, excitement? Do we not all long to love and be loved?
In our sameness, we are each unique, beautiful beings — a gift to the world.
When a crayon breaks
Two of my 24 crayons broke this week.
Using them became more difficult — working with a smaller piece in my short, chubby fingers wasn’t easy. I needed to use different pressure to get just the right amount on the page. I had to be gentle.
When a crayon breaks, it still provides color and beauty to the bigger picture.
AND aren’t people just like that!
We enter into the world fresh-tipped, nicely wrapped — and as we share our beauty with the world, we change. And sometimes, unfortunately, we break.
Much like the tree in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree and the rabbit in Margery Williams’ The Velveteen Rabbit we give to those we love. And sometimes, others take and take and take.
My problem with the tree that keeps on giving is that it leaves out the importance of setting boundaries and protecting ourselves. Yes — unconditional love and all, but we can’t pour from an empty cup, etc. And don’t get me started on the seeming selfishness of the boy who continues to take even into adulthood.
As for the rabbit — wouldn’t it be nice if the rabbit recognized its worth from the get-go? the world was filled with magic fairies that pull us out of fires that otherwise destroy us.
But I digress…
In our brokenness, we are still beautiful. We may need to be held differently. We may need a gentler touch. We may need to be put in the box more carefully — but we still add life, light, and love to the wonderful world around us.
If we and others recognize the universality and the diversity — that which we share and that which is unique — perhaps we will celebrate the beauty each brings, learn to be gentler with ourselves and others, and create a world that is respectful, safe, more joyful, and more gorgeous for everyone.
