TomAto/Tomaaato.

"If everyone sees things differently, who sees them the way they are?"

As a student, teacher, and lover of history, this is usually one of the most interesting and refreshing truths.

I imagine we have all had at least one shocking moment when the reality of this statement smacks us around. A moment where we are looking up at the lovely blue sky and the person next to us remarks about how lovely the green sky is. 
Historically, I have loved that moment of dissonance. I like to be reminded that there are as many perceptions of the world as there are people.
I love that moment because it provides the opportunity to expand my own limited view.  In order to function efficiently, most of the time, we operate under the misconception that the people around us see things as we do. Since we all stay mostly within the guidelines presented to us by society ,it is easier to go about our day if we think like this.
Yet, we are taught when we are younger that no two people see colors the same way. We know that Inuits have a bazillion (or so it would seem) words for snow.  We even understand that our image of "the desk" is really just our mind making sense of molecules. (or something like that)
When our ancestors were hardwired for survival, it was important to form opinions about people and situations quickly. The evolution of society, laws, and culture has made this less and less necessary, but we still create entire personalities for people based on our observations of a few traits, characteristics or even statements that are made.  Sometimes we evaluate the person poorly, sometimes we raise them too high in our esteem. Either way, we get upset when they do not conform to the image we have created.  In order to satisfy our orderly brains, we don't allow for people to be two seemingly opposed things.
This is all fine and well, until you realize you are on the recieving end.  For we understand that we can be many things all at once.  Finding a way to extend that understanding makes sense then. Right?
When confronted with hysterical teens, struggling with rumors and general teen angst. I try to convince them that they know how wonderful and special they are and that other people's opinions of them are not what they should focus on.  I have no idea if this is helpful, it's just my party line. Truth is, we care what others think. Whether we like to admit it or not.
Unfortunately, it is a situation that is entirely out of our control.  The only thing we can hope to guide is our own perspectives.  We do need to remember how great we all are.  Today, I am going to do the unheard of, and follow my own advice. I am going to spend my day in gratitude for the opportunity to be more generous in my own opinions of those around me.

After all, the sky is a lovely shade of green today.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~Nelson Mandela