Have you noticed that it seems the rarer something is, the more perceived value it has? Is it novelty alone, or is there something more to it? I know when I am hiking and I see a wildflower that I rarely see, (or maybe I have never even seen before, but I am familiar with it from my herb books) I get super excited and spend quite a bit of time photographing it from different angles and study it enthusiastically. And then there might be a huge patch of something completely common just down the trail, like the giant patch of spotted touch-me-nots (Jewelweed) with their exquisite little orange “hats” and fun little exploding seed pods that grows abundantly along the streambank and even I, admirer of all things nature, may give it only a mild passing appreciation.
Of course, this is all a matter of my own perception, but when I thought about it in a more universal way, I saw that it isn’t just wildflowers that incite this phenomenon, it’s pretty much anything that can fall into this eternal comparison… Whether it is a coveted Myanmar Ruby being compared to a piece of quartz from the gravel driveway or maybe an exotic spice, such as saffron. While “rare” has an exclusive sense to it, society seems to encourage us to all be, act, and look the same. And while I can see how this as an excellent marketing technique, I say, let’s all march to the beat of our own drum, whatever that means.
Whether it is a patch of Black-Eyed Susans, which grow lavishly almost anywhere, or the extraordinary and persnickety Fringed Orchid, my intention is to appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. And while I may not be able to tell one of these bright yellow flowers from another next to it, I appreciate the diversity of people I meet. Every single human being is completely different. We are all rare. One of a kind, in fact. Although we don’t often act like it, it is something to celebrate. Be authentic and express your rarity.
What does that mean for you?
