We are all nature’s greatest miracle and yet it’s ironic that humans are placed on this earth as unique individuals, yet we gravitate to always wanting to be alike. Why is this?

Maybe it’s the media dividing people or the school system telling kids to do what Johnny is doing. Or Hollywood’s latest and greatest fashions and procedures showing us what we should do, how we should look, what kind of cars to drive, what to eat, or not eat, etc. etc.

There has never been another with my mind, my heart, my eyes, my ears, my hands, my hair, my mouth. None that came before me, none that live today, and none that come tomorrow can walk and talk and move and think exactly like me. All men are my brothers, yet I am different from each.

Og Mandino The Greatest Salesman in the World, Scroll IV

This is what makes us special, there is no one like you. We are all the same as human beings, yet everyone is unique in their own way.

I love talking to people of all walks of life and especially learning about different cultures. Sometimes people just need to talk and vent.

One thing I have is patience with others whether it’s standing in long lines, waiting in traffic, or running into someone who wants to talk, and we end up in a conversation where the cold items in my grocery cart are screaming for refrigeration. Even though it may cut into my day, I always walk away feeling good interacting with others.

Today I walked into the gym. I see Mike on the other side of the room. Oh dear, Mike is the guy who knows EVERYONE in our community. He is very friendly and loves to talk and talk and talk.

My workouts are 2 hours to begin with but if Mike comes and starts talking it could go into three hours. Most of the time I will cut a lot out of my routine that day.

As I was getting ready to use the very first machine of the morning, here comes Mike making his way over to greet me. He always asks the same questions, how is the family? How are my girls doing? Where are they playing? When will they be home? How is my son doing?

I always try to divert the conversation on his family and his new grandchild. He proceeded to tell me about all the health problems his wife is having and what she is doing to cope with it looking for alternative ways to heal.

As he goes on and on about all these health issues, I am telling myself not to engage in this conversation of bad health. Why are people’s health the topic of conversation at this age?

I was not delivered unto this world in defeat, nor does failure course in my veins. I am not a sheep waiting to be prodded by my shepherd. I am a lion and I refuse to talk, to walk, to sleep with the sheep. I hear not those who weep and complain, for their disease is contagious. Let them join the sheep. The slaughterhouse full of failure is not my destiny.

Og Mandino, The Greatest Salesman in the World, Scroll III

Well, I got caught up in his conversation while mentally telling myself not to engage and ended up agreeing with him on health issues as we get older. Why do I do this??? I need to talk to the gal in the glass.

Is it because we are striving to be alike? Is there comfort in wanting to be like others? Comparing ourselves or is it a bonding to the other person? I don’t know. Maybe it’s just human nature. For I am nature’s greatest Miracle. God made us all unique, we don’t need to be like anyone else.

I don’t want to be rude when someone wants to talk and needs someone to listen. Even if I switch the subject on them to make it so they can’t finish what they were passionate about telling me.

I feel I’m in a quandary, not just with Mike but also getting together with friends. By agreeing with what they have to say, is not a way to bond with someone instead it is destruction to both of us. I know that now, but they don’t know that.

After last night’s call I decided to give myself permission for happiness, health and power. The gal in the mirror says power is the ability to control my thoughts and my thoughts need to control my words and how I feel when negative conversations come up.

I need to think of this as a game, to have fun and just look for kindness in others without taking what I hear to heart.

As Og says:
“I begin NOW to accent the differences and HIDE my similarities.”