Each of Us Has Value

Ever heard the saying "surround yourself with people who are better than you"?  The purpose being if you're surrounded by people who challenge, inspire and motivate you, they will pull you up; bring the absolute best out of you.  If you hang out with your equals or less, they will only bring you down; you will reach a plateau in life.  I always questioned that theory because if you hang out with "better" then aren't YOU the one bringing THEM down?  Who wants to be dubbed the dead weight?!

​Are we to latch onto a "better" group of human beings & accept that we may very well just bring them down?  Are we obligated to put in the effort to  absorb a "lesser" human being into our world in hopes we enrich them?  Who gets to say who is "better"?  Sounds like a crock to me.  I get the intent....who doesn't want to be the best version of themselves?!  Motivate yourself, surround yourself with the people who draw the best out of you, push yourself to see what you can accomplish.  

​Here's what I do know to be true.  There are people in life that require more of your effort.  There are people in life that are effortless to be around.  I've gained valuable life lessons from both.  I think it's important to be in organized sports, the military, major school projects or in a work environment where you are working towards common goals.  It's there that you learn there is value in each and every human being.  That annoying co worker who is heavy on schmoozing, but light on actual work?  They are great at landing new clients.  They seem to always know the right things to say to the right people.  Running drills with that team mate who slows your time down?  They are an excellent offensive tackle and can protect you from hits that could put you out of the game.  Just enrolled in the Army and get paired with the scrawny, snarky, humorless guy as a bunk mate?  Then you find out this guy is unbelievably intelligent is exactly who we'd want working in Intelligence.  Got assigned to the introvert for the massive school assignment on public speaking?  Turns out they have excellent writing skills and put together a speech that brings the A+.  When you're forced to spend time with people you might not have otherwise, you can learn so much.  Maybe BOTH your lives are enriched as a result.

​There's no talent in being dismissive.  There's no talent in ranking who is a better human being than the next.  The talent is in finding the value in everyone.  Every.  One.