Have you ever wished you were someone else? Maybe you wish you could be funny like her, or more outgoing like him, or more organized like your neighbor.
For years I wished I could be someone else. In high school, I tried. I had a specific “ideal” girl in mind. She was a year ahead of me in school, and everyone loved her. She was sweet, kind, caring, quiet, adorable. So for a week, I tried to be her. Quiet. Sweet. Smiley. My friends and teachers asked me what was wrong, why I wasn’t speaking up.
Last fall, I sat at a table with three other women at a retreat looping burlap through wreaths for our front doors. I had fun, but I’m not so sure about the other three. By the time we finished, we were covered in burlap fuzz and sneezing it for the next hour. After fussing and tweaking and blistering our fingers with hot glue to keep the crazy pieces in place, *some* of our group were ready to toss the wreaths out the door.
A couple hours later, my friends realized that maybe the wreaths didn’t look as bad as they originally thought – a little time and space can work magic on a frustrating project – and we noticed something interesting as we surveyed the burlap creations hanging around our bunks.
Three wreaths, all made from the same materials, yet each one had a unique look. Each was pretty in its own way. One was extra loopy and fluffy. Another was more tightly looped, one was in-between. One with ribbons, others with various colored burlap rosettes. Each ready to adorn a door at home and bring some fall cheer.
We stood back with heads tilted to the side and marveled at our creations, rather proud of what we had done, and how each of us had expressed ourselves differently.
And it reminded me of us. We all are made from the same materials – flesh and blood, bones and muscle, brains and intelligence. Each one of us a unique expression of a great Creator.
So why is it that we try so hard to fit a mold, when there obviously wasn’t meant to be one? Why do we try to shape our personalities and our strengths to match someone else’s?
Looped tightly, looped loosely – each one beautiful.
Introvert, extrovert.
One more fluffy, one with muscle wound a little tighter.
Each one beautiful.
One a bit more scattered yet so creative. Another kept orderly and a bit more analytical.
Each one beautiful.
We each have a place. A purpose. We are each one loved by the Creator.
I confess, that sometimes I still try to be someone else. I wish I was funnier. More creative. More or less of something else. It’s a trap so easy to fall in.
But what if the things we are trying most to change God is saying, “No, no, my sweet child – that is a gift to the world around you! I made you this way.”
Each one different, but beautiful.
Don’t change just to be someone else. Be your beautiful, unique you.
[tweetherder]Why is it that we try so hard to fit a mold, when there obviously wasn’t meant to be one? [/tweetherder]
[tweetherder]Don’t change just to be someone else. Be your beautiful, unique you.[/tweetherder]
I love this! I sometimes wish I wasn’t so sensitive and emotional. I view it as a weakness. I wish I could be more like so and so…But God doesn’t make mistakes so I have had to learn to accept it and in fact, embrace it. I love how you used our wreath making ‘abilities’ to teach this lesson. How cool!
I sometimes I wish I could be more sensitive and emotional! I think we could always wish we were more or less of something else. You’re beautiful as you are, Jen! The wreath lesson lives on!!
Thank you for this story Amelia! I so often have feelings of inadequacy and compare myself to others. I have to keep remembering to be myself, the way God wants me to be.
Such an easy trap to fall in, Myrna – especially when we compare ourselves to others. Be your beautiful self!!