No Big 'I's No Little 'U's
“The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.”
Photo by nappy.
How wonderful it would be if people in the world in which we live didn’t measure each other by their differences. We would be far more harmonious if we looked at those things that make us the same. There should be “No Big ‘I’s and No Little ‘U’s.”
We all start with a blank slate; however, our circumstances do often determine how hard we might have to work to change those conditions from birth. Sometimes that requires climbing over mountains of the unconscious (and even very conscious) cultural biases that surround us. The trip over and even through these mountains requires grit, drive, and persistence. Sadly, sometimes we are not even aware that these conditions exist.
I contend that there are certain factors that may serve to improve our chances of becoming our best selves and seeing others in that same light. We must first gain a clear understanding of the environment from which we begin to grow. Then we must surround ourselves with positive energy, and if possible, encouraging and uplifting mentors. Last but certainly not least, we must be able to recognize our own inner strengths and God-given gifts through our own cultural lens and perspectives.
I grew up in a small-town environment that was an incubator for growing individual gifts in very caring surroundings. We were a community of gifted souls. Every pierced ear was done with precision by an auntie with a needle, thread, and the burnt end of a broom straw. She was as much an expert creating the perfect ear piercing as any certified/apprenticed body piercer of this era. Our town mommas, grandmas, uncles, and aunts were the expert hair fryers, barbers, cooks, and party planners. There was an expert car repairman, bricklayer, lawn man, or multi-talented musician in every few houses down the road. Every one of these gifts was needed, respected, and celebrated for its own worth. Whether you were a teacher, preacher, or candlestick maker, there was a place for everyone that was purposeful and appreciated. We were blessed with so much talent and knowledge and it’s time we began working to bring this kind of cooperative spirit back before the idea of community is dead and gone.
Unity! Photo by Pixabay.
Every contribution to the community's needs, and everyone’s interdependence on each other made the neighborhood thrive. No one was measured by any level of status, but by each one’s connections to the community as a whole – “No Big ‘I’s and No Little ‘U’s.” Most important was how each one contributed to the uplifting of our entire neighborhood. As communities have diminished and people have begun living in their individual silos, that kind of interdependence and celebration of God-given talents have in some ways been lost along the way.
So many of us can be stopped in our tracks based on someone else’s measuring stick. We talk ourselves out of opportunities because we dismiss our talents as not being big enough or good enough. Often there is someone so ready, willing, and able to move us to the next level of achievement, but we may overlook the fact that they were sent just for us. That someone may just be the key to your life change to a higher level.
I have been guilty at times of believing that what others can do and be is far more superior than that which I could ever achieve. I must constantly remind myself that what was birthed in me is still in me, planted as my unique and special seed, waiting to be watered. I don't need to first pull out any measuring stick to size up how I compare to others. I must walk along my own seeded path.
Even on my journey as a writer, sometimes I didn't want to believe that a given opportunity was meant for me. But I've learned that opportunities come with belief in oneself. So, the moral of this story is simple – we are as big or as small as we believe we are – there are certainly “No Big ‘I’s and No Little ‘U’s.” Let’s all put that on a shirt and wear it proudly!