"what makes me me"
October 28, 2001, 10:06 p.m.

The IF...Project

If you were to identify that which makes you you, what characteristic would you describe? What uniqueness would people who know you say distinguishes you from others?

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This is a HARD topic to write about. It's like asking - what makes an orange an orange?

It's color? Orange. Well, a pumpkin is orange but is nothing like an orange.

It's juicy? Well a grape is juicy and nothing like an orange.

It's round? Well a beachball is round and nothing like an orange.

It's got a thick fleshy outer peeling? Well a banana has a thick fleshy outer peeling.

When I think about me and what makes me me and when I think about what uniqueness would people who know me say distinguishes me from others, I can come up with many things, yet these same things don't really distinguish me all that much from other people.

Still, I've had to reflect thougthfully on my life and try to see how I relate and compare and how I differ from other people and the lives that they lead and the behaviours they display. I look at the life I lead and the behaviors I display. I've had to look at what I feel passionate or even dispassionate about and what I think about when I'm not thinking of anything at all.

So I've come to this conclusion which may or may not be real but simply feels right and that is....

I have a very accepting nature. I accept people for who they are and I don't set out to try to change them unless they come to me and ask me to help them change for themselves.

I appreciate the gifts and the uniqueness that every person brings to this party called life. I see the value in every person. I seek to understand the road they walk and life they lead.

I strive to honor the soul and the basic human dignity of every person.

Now that I've said all these wonderful things about myself. I also know that I am quick to verbally assault those I firmly disagree with. In my past entries I've written incompassionate diatribes about people (like our current president for example).

When I see injustice, tyranny, intolerance and prejudice - I am quick to denounce the persons responsible.

I have no tolerance for intolerant people - and this makes me intolerant.

I am prejudiced against prejudiced people and this makes me prejudiced.

Yet, I do forgive. I forgive easily to the point that some do not understand or can accept that I have done so.

Or at least I try.

So, to sum it all up in one word, that word would be: Acceptance.