You is Valuable…

Something that has really been on my mind and heart recently is the concept of Value. How we place value on ourselves, and others and how that impacts the way we feel about ourselves.

How do we measure the value of an item that we find in a store? We measure its value by the Quality of the item, and by the Function of the item. If an item is good quality, sturdy, holds up, if it performs its function or purpose that it was originally meant for, then we deem that item valuable for purchase.

People are the same. No, we are not items to be purchased. But we place upon ourselves a value, that each moment in our lives measure. Friends, School, Relationships, Work, all aspects of our lives we use to evaluate how “valuable” we are in society. Sometimes we put labels on ourselves and others that make the value of a person seem greater, or lesser but in reality the factors used to measure their value have never changed.

Like when friends, some who even claim to be your “best friend”, tell you “I am always here for you.” But when a time comes when you really do need them, and suddenly they are too busy, the have moved on, they found someone “better”, or they really just never cared? Or maybe you feel like you never really had friends. See, we place a label on ourselves that we are “DISPOSABLE” and a “LOSER”.

Or when you sit in a room, and watch all the members of the opposite sex scanning the room for perspective companions, and no one pauses for even a second glance at you. You are perpetually single, and everyone around you has someone. Or you can get a date, but no one wants to stick around and it makes you feel “UGLY”, “UNLOVABLE”, and “DIFFERENT”.

What about when you get that paper back, or a math assignment and the grade you made was less than perfect or just plain lousy. If you tried your hardest, and did your best, but you didn’t quite grasp that concept or you misunderstood the question, or just simply didn’t know and you get that grade back and you feel so sick, you feel “STUPID”.

Or in work, and extra-curricular activities. Aren’t as athletic as your teammates? Didn’t make as many goals? Can’t sing as well as your friends? Didn’t get cast in the upcoming play? Didn’t get that promotion? Made a mistake on the paperwork, and had to start over? Aren’t as fast as your coworkers? All these things can make you feel “SMALL” and “INADEQUATE” and “PATHETIC”

Now all of those labels alone lessen our perceived value, and when you have more than one of those labels you can begin to believe that you have no value, or that you are “WORTHLESS”. But really, has your Quality ever changed? When your “friends” ditch you, are YOU the one whose quality changed? No. They were not as sturdy as they claimed; their word didn’t hold up, their quality changed. When you don’t get as great of a grade as you wanted, did you fail to achieve your Function? No. You still did your best, and you are still learning. When you can’t find a guy or a girl to snuggle up with, has your quality or function ever wavered? No. You are unique and rare, and it takes someone special to see the jewel that is you. Your value stays the same! Your labels change, but your value stays true.

I wrote in my journal in September, during a very dark part of my life “Why am I doomed to be a Dixie cup, in a world full of people looking for glass…”

The only problem with that logic is that no one ever asked the Dixie cup to be a glass. They are both vessels. Both serving different functions, made out of different materials. Is a good quality Dixie cup less valuable than a good quality glass? No! Why? Because they both serve their own functions, and they do their best and both with good quality materials. They are both VALUABLE! Just in different ways. Just as you are no less valuable than any other person.

You are quality; you function just as you were made to. Friends? They will fail you and make you feel disposable. Work will make you feel inadequate. Relationships will never reach your expectations. School will leave you hopeless and feeling stupid. But you have purpose. You are unique and rare. You are…wait for it… VALUABLE!

And I hope you wake up every morning, and you remember how important you are.

So go be a Dixie cup! Just be the best darn Dixie cup you can possibly be.

 

“You is Kind…You is smart…You is IMPORTANT.” ~ The Help