Have you ever looked at a banana with spots and assumed that it was old, mushy and overly ripe inside? I usually don’t spend a lot of time talking about produce, but this is exactly what happened to me last week. A lone banana sat on my kitchen table and turned from bright green, AKA unripe, to yellow, AKA delicious, to neon yellow with dark spots, AKA too ripe/gross. I was pretty sure I had missed my window to enjoy it, so I let it sit there. Last Tuesday, I woke up late and didn’t have time for breakfast and took my inedible, geriatric banana with me to work. When I peeled back it’s tough, leathery exterior, I found that it was in perfect condition and tasty.
Here’s the infamous quote “don’t judge a book by its cover.” Since childhood, our parents, teachers and friends have given us this advice, but in the hustle of bustle of everyday life we often forget. Personally, there have been instances where I have judged solely on appearance. But I’ve learned through experience that a book’s cover can be misleading and we often miss the “fine print.” As in legal disclaimers and people alike, the fine print is only available if you take the time to read them. If I didn’t take the opportunity to read between the lines, I may have missed out on some of the most amazing relationships that have added and continue to add so much to my life.
When I was in boy scouts, one of our annual volunteering efforts was at the local convalescent home. Many of the elderly residents had no family and had been left alone in this world. We would do our annual visit during Christmas time. It didn’t take long for me to recognize, even as a child that they didn’t want presents, they just wanted your “presence.” They could care less about any gifts, but just wanted the opportunity to be listened to and heard. The first year, I assumed that I was about to be put into a room with a bunch of senile and irritable old people. This was hardly, the case. The majority of them had a youthful energy and had wisdom to share. Other times, I had assumed that teenagers are relatively simple and probably don’t know what’s important to them or have many goals, since I didn’t at that age. We need to learn to check our preconceived notions and judgments at the door. When you take the opportunity to learn about people, you may see an entirely different side than what you were expecting.
I have come to realize that there is beauty in nearly all people, if you open yourself up to it and stick around long enough to see it, you might also be blindsided and be amazed.
Wishing You Wealth in all its Greatest Forms,
Alex
