I have this beautiful painting that hangs in my dining room. Some time during a move the painting was bumped against something and some of the gold paint on the frame was chipped off. I love that picture and decided that the chipped part was insignificant and hung it anyway. Every time I walk past that picture I am distracted by that little chipped piece of the frame and I focus on it instead of the actual picture.
I have come to the conclusion that we as humans allow ourselves to do the same to others. If we spot the smallest flaw in someone one, whether it be in physical appearance or in the form of a mistake they have made, that is what we seemed to instantly focus on.
Recently in a political situation in the county where I live the whole political scene has become a three ring circus of people against people. There are those that cheer on the person that they support and those that go to all lengths and measures to bring someone down. I have been personally involved in all that has gone on in a few different aspects and as it has all unfolded I have seen more than my fair share of sides of people that I wish I had never seen. It has almost at some point made me lose faith in humanity.
Sitting back in observance of all that has played out it has made me put into perspective that life in general is a lot like this political fiasco that has taken place. It's very saddening to me that people are the way that they are. People are funny creatures; they long for acceptance and appreciation, but yet in return they often more times than not try to find the bad in someone even when it is not transparent instead of searching for the perfections beneath the imperfections. It's almost as if we (including myself as a guilty party) instantaneously feel a need to find another person's flaw instead of a desire to see what is good. It's not necessarily that we want others to fail, it's just that it's so easy to see one thing wrong with someone and to form an opinion by that.
I, myself would probably be sent off to a prison of with cells designed for those with bad judgement and I would be hard pressed to find representation that could prove me innocent. It's not that I seek out to find the bad, it's just that it's easier to notice at times than it is to see the good. I am at fault with Patrick my significant other when he makes me mad, my family when I feel neglected and abandoned by them, or even my friends or acquaintances when I feel that they have overlooked me or forgotten about me. I don't look at the bigger picture. I don't see that the good outweighs the bad, I don't invest my time in finding a solution; instead I give into the taking the low road and I judge, criticize or just plain out don't give someone a chance to prove me wrong.
I wish I knew what it is about human nature that we act as we do. Why do we prefer to look at a flaw or imperfection rather than the beauty of a person? Perhaps it's because it's like my relationship with my picture, I see it's flaw, I know it's there, and I can't quit looking at the chipped piece of paint because I don't look past it to see what is beyond it.
Things bring out the worse in us as humans; whether it's a heated election, a feud with a loved one, or a bad situation.We would all be in a better place, in a happier universe, and in a more perfect world if we could look past the chips and the flaws of the person and focus on the soul and the heart inside the frame.
