Passerby

4comculture.com

Passerby

Wanda Wade

It was early morning, still dark out as my son Ethan and I got into the car headed to our normal drive of the stop to wait for the school bus.  Our drive is usually quiet, both of us trying to gather our thoughts for the day and taking mental checks to make sure nothing was left behind.  As we drove the distance of our long winding street, my son spoke what he was obviously thinking. 

“Mom, I’m looking at all of the cars in the driveways of all of these houses that we’re passing by and it makes me think about all of the people that live there.” 

I mumbled, “Uh-huh” because I wanted him to continue. 

Then he said something that was very profound to me, “it makes me think about all of them living their lives, making plans about what they want to do and then I think about how that must be happening everywhere around the world.” 

“Wow, you’re right.  What do you think about that?” I asked. 

His reply was, “it’s weird and scary all at the same time.” 

Our conversation ended abruptly because he had to catch the bus and I was off to my daily regime at the gym.  I did however, think about what my very thought provoking fourteen year old had said. Sure we could’ve finished the conversation later that day when he returned home but I was in a place of wanting to expound where he had left off.

I thought I was the only one who was a passerby in the lives of people I don’t know.  From time to time I may come in contact with a stranger and walk away wondering what their life is like.  Is there someone waiting for them at home?  Has life been good to them?  Or, are they alone in a world that’s home to millions.

I don’t think it’s uncommon for us to wonder about the lives of those around us.  I believe it’s a part of our nature, call it curiosity or just plain nosiness but it would be even more scary to think that your life is the only one that matters.

Caring about your fellow man gives hope for humanity and it reminds us to grab a hold of life and all that it has to offer.  The next time you’re passing by someone’s life hopefully you will demonstrate an act of selflessness because we're told in doing so it lends to the human spirit and my cause a chain reaction with good results to follow.

The human spirit teaches us to connect to as many humans as possible. - wanda wade

Life is....

Life is...

Wanda Wade

brucemctague.com

Life is funny.

It can be unexpected.

It allows happiness and sad moments, still it should be cherished. 

It’s precious and it goes by oh so quickly.

Don’t be afraid to enjoy, embrace and live it to the fullest. 

And don’t spend unnecessary time dwelling on past mistakes, forgotten arguments or should haves.

Instead focus on what is, what can be and today.

Because the unforeseen part of life makes no promises, doesn't care about your regrets or future plans.

It just expects you to live for today because tomorrow may never come.

Beauty By Any Other Name

Beauty By Any Other Name

elizabethahawksworth.com

                                                     Wanda Wade

Four year old little girls are amazing, creative and believers of fairy-tales.  I remember my now nineteen year old daughter at this age.  She was giggly, funny and, an uncontrollable ball of energy. The family game room was continuously covered with her things.  There was a sea of pink and purple everywhere, and yes she did believe she was a beautiful princess.  She had tiaras, those plastic Cinderella slippers and the complete princess attire in several different styles.  Though it was short lived, it was a fun and playful time in our house.

It was a time of dreams, make believes and fairy-tales, which is something that all young girls should experience.  I'd like to think of it as the princess effect because it encourages girls to dream and it gives them a positive view of themselves.  If all girls grew up believing that they were beautiful it could boost their self-esteem times ten and set them on a path of self-love, don't you think?  It would further give them a positive self-image and instead of relying on what others define as beauty in them, they'd be equipped to determine that for themselves.  Making it almost impossible for anyone to fit a particular mold of beauty.

Recently I came across an article written three years ago in Psychology Today and it contradicted everything I believed about beauty and myself.  It was written by Satoshi Kanazawa, a Reader in Management at the London School of Economics.  A reader is someone who uses evolutionary psychology to analyze social sciences, such as sociology and economics.

Kanazawa is known to write controversial articles and his findings have come under scrutiny by his peers in the past.  The article in Psychology Today was no exception, depicting women of color as unattractive.  The article was titled, Why Black Women are Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women.  The title was later changed before it was removed completely by the website. 

Although his results seemed to have been skewed it didn't stop the post from being printed. Also, Psychology Today did include a disclaimer warning that this blogger was known to offend.  I guess it was their way of throwing the rock but hiding their hand, so to speak.  After reading the article I was left with less questions about beauty and more about humanity.  For instance, who thought demeaning a race of women would be a positive thing?  Does Satoshi Kanazawa's statistical findings determine beauty?  Or is beauty truly in the eye of the beholder?  I'd like to think that beauty can be found in everyone.  So, my question is, shouldn't we all be considered beautiful?

As a human race we all have something of beauty to contribute to this amazing space that we share.  Beauty isn't just based on physicality, it’s something more.  Look around and you’ll find that you’re surrounded by beauty.  I revel in the beauty of being awaken to a new day and new experiences, and all that it encompasses.  To me, this is a beautiful gift in and of itself. 

The beauty of the human spirit surpasses all things aesthetic – wanda wade