You know the term ‘opposites attract’? Well, it’s not always true. Hence the term ‘birds of a feather flock together’. But even when you may have a lot in common with someone else, there are always going to be differences to celebrate.

Say for example your best friend’s favorite color is green and yours is purple. That’s clearly a difference, and it most likely doesn’t bother you at all. In fact, you most likely don’t even pay second thought to it. But what if the difference was bigger?

What if your favorite sports team beat their favorite sports team? Would the difference in favorites bother you a little bit? Would you pay more thought to it than the difference in favorite colors? These are actually the differences we should be celebrating!

So I’m going to let you in on a few tricks I use personally that help me learn to not only to overcome differences, but celebrate them! Whether it’s your friend, spouse, family member, or whoever, remember that differences are what make us unique, and in turn, the one of a kind we are!

A Little Empathy Goes A Long Way

Do you ever wish somehow somebody would just understand? Without you having to explain, feel bad or guilty, or somehow ‘nice it down’ for them? You know, the feeling of just wanting to be yourself without worrying or caring what anyone else will think?

Well, imagine how many other people feel that way too. Imagine for a second that possibly they could be feeling the same way you feel and might not admit or show it. Sort of like yourself perhaps? Maybe if we just had a little empathy for the fact that they are their own person and they get to decide how to live their life just like we get to decide how to live ours.

I heard on the news this morning that there was a shooting where someone died because the gunman didn’t like the flag of the sports team they were displaying. A simple difference of opinion in who to cheer on. Because that’s all it really is. Let them support who they support just like we should be able to support who we want because it’s our choice and happiness.

Embarrassment Schmarrassment

Why do we get embarrassed? Well, maybe I shouldn’t speak for you. Maybe you don’t have the slightest inkling of what it feels like to get embarrassed in front of others, even if it means just being yourself. But if you do, then maybe you have the same question as me.

Look, I can’t tell you how to not get embarrassed. But I can tell you how I overcome embarrassment. One way is to laugh it off, even if others are laughing too (yes at me not with me). For example, if people are talking about something that I have no idea about, I will say “You know what? I actually have no idea what that means.” This way, I’m opening up the conversation to not only understand others better, but celebrate our differences too!

Another way to overcome embarrassment is to just accept. And what I mean by this is not trying to cover something up, but instead fully admitting that’s just who I am and letting others ‘judge me’. For example, I am a very picky eater. I used to get embarrassed by that because I hate when it looks like I don’t like the dish someone has prepared. But now I just say it as it is with a smile on my face (or a laugh) and let others think what they may.

Always Learning

One of the main reasons it’s important to celebrate differences is because it allows us to learn more about those we are different from. Whether it’s a difference in age, gender, race, financial status, or anything! Yes, we’re different. No, that doesn’t mean we have to pretend like we don’t even acknowledge one another.

Differences are important because it shows the diversity in our planet and our planet thrives on diversity. We need the bold and courageous folk who are willing to put their life on the line for others. We need the bold and courageous folk who are willing to harness their passion and be vulnerable in front of the rest of us to show us their art. And we need every type of person in between!

It doesn’t have to mean you like and support their views and choices. But it does mean that you have to be willing to accept that someone who is not you thinks and acts in ways that you don’t. We can learn so much more from someone who has differing views than us than we can learn from those who we share the same opinions with! Always be willing to take advantage of that!

It’s Never Too Late

Whether you could care less what others think of you already or you sometimes still feel too self-conscious to make a choice that feels true to you, we can all learn to accept and celebrate differences. Differences in parenting styles, differences in career choices, differences in any aspect that makes each and every one of us human!

Do you have any tricks for celebrating or even just overcoming differences? Let us know in the comments below! You never know, you could be the one who changes the rest of someone’s life! And if you’re in need of some more motivation for finding ways to just be yourself, check out ETM’s blog here.

Thank you so very much for being a part of ETM’s community of Mommas! I encourage you to join discussions, interact with Mommas alike, and be unapologetically yourself! Until next time, I hope I’m able to help make your life as simple as could be. (:

With all my love, Brandolyn – Earth to Momma