You are a unique event that happens once in a lifetime. In the history of humanity, there has never been another like you. Once you’re gone, there will be no one like you. There are eight billion people living on the planet, but only one of them is you. You are an exceptional person!
Les Brown, motivational speaker and author, stressed the importance of each individual being unique. He reasoned, “You have to be if you survived as one out of 40 million sperm.” He continued, “You were born to win. You were born to do something valuable to the universe.”
You have all heard the saying, “They broke the mold when he (or she) was born.” If we were made from molds, this would be true for each one of us. We wouldn’t have the number 112 stamp out of 600 models. Each one of us would be number 1 among 600 models.
Tanya, my wife, purchased a new dress and left one of her tags on her dresser. It was a fancy tag with an elaborate border, scripted words and a message. It was a fancy tag with a border and scripted words. I didn’t know what it was when I took it to work the next morning. It read, “The variations and nuances of shading and the uneven texture are what gives this garment its unique character and are not to be considered imperfections.” It got me thinking. This tag’s message applies to all of us.
God might have sent a similar message to us if we were each born with a tag. There are many variations in our skin, including different shades and texture. Each of us has a unique personality that should not be mistaken for imperfections.
Who would you choose to be if you could be any person in the world? This question was asked of 51 representatives from all 50 states in an old Miss America Pageant. As I remember, around 80 percent of them answered that they would choose themself if given the option. I was first proud of the high proportion who chose to answer themselves. I thought about the remaining twenty percent. Based on the opportunities that lay ahead, why didn’t they choose to be themselves?
Each of us must be proud to be who we are. You are not like anyone else. You will fail if you try to be someone else in this world. You are only allowed to be you. We must do our best with what we have.
I sometimes feel that I should wear a sign around my neck that reads, “Work in Progress.” I know that God is not finished with me yet. I know that every day that I live, there is something I can do to make me better. This goes for everyone, not just the guy next to me.
I recently bought a framed sign that says “The world needs who you were made to be.” I agree.
I saw a framed print in a bookstore that read, “God danced the day you were born. You are loved. You are God’s gift and his personal possession. You are God’s gift of love, a gift for all people. You are his.” Wow!
You must be the masterpiece you were meant to be. And aren’t we each a masterpiece? Aren’t we each a masterpiece more spectacular that the greatest work of art that any of mankind has ever made?
We were each made by God and God doesn’t make junk!
Psalms 139:13-16 puts it best, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. You are a fearfully and wonderfully created being, which I praise. Your works are amazing, as I know. When I was created in the secret place, my frame was not hidden from your eyes. You saw my unformed form when I was woven together from the depths the earth. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
You are the masterpiece I challenge you to be. You are the original edition. Don’t waste time wishing that you were someone else. You are special. Be proud of your uniqueness. Be yourself. Use the opportunity you’ve been given to develop your potential. Use the three-foot circle around you to your advantage. Sometimes you are all that can be controlled.
You are unique and beautifully made.
Rick Kraft is a local lawyer, syndicated columnist and Executive Director of Leadership Roswell Program. To submit comments, contributions, or ideas, e-mail to rkraft@kraftlawfirm.org or write to P.O. Box 850 Roswell NM 88202-0850