These diamonds are valuable and so are we.

In 2014 Sotheby’s auctioned off a 118 carat white diamond for 30.8 million dollars. It is the most expensive and exquisite white diamond ever sold. But let’s say that during transport a fumbling worker dropped the diamond in the mud. How much would it be worth then? It wasn’t broken or chipped, just dropped and covered in mud. Which one of us wouldn’t scoop it back up, rinse it off, polish it, shine it and treat it according to its incredible value?

And yet so many of us discount ourselves (and each other) when we are covered in the mud of life. This begs the question: why do we judge the intrinsic value of a human being so arbitrarily? We criticize each other based on our: morals, clothing, behavior, “success”, style, values, the list goes on and on. We turn on ourselves and criticize ourselves for where we “should” be and what we “should” be doing. We look at others and are quick to categorize into “successful” “wealthy” “down and out” “criminal” “crazy” (to name a few). No one is immune.

I have the privilege of volunteering and teaching a special group of high school aged youth. Their ages range from 14-18. Their maturity spans from little boys still playing Pokemon, to sophisticated, well-traveled college-bound youth. Some are well-to-do with impeccable style. Others have brilliant brains and magic with words. Some are quiet and others are loud. Some appear lost, insecure and drowning through brutal adolescence while others appear to have it all together. Some come from broken homes and families. Others have loving support networks. They are all so different in every way (even kids from the same family are strikingly different)!

I love each and every student I teach. I see their beauty. I see their brains. I see their hearts and their insecurities. I see their intrinsic value and what they bring to the table. I wish I could cast a magic spell so that they could see one another the way that I see them. I wish that they could see themselves the way that I see them.

Let’s be the one lifting, supporting and seeing the best in others.

Each one is special, irreplaceable, and has the power to be a force of light, goodness, love and joy in the world. I want them to understand, more than anything, that their value doesn’t depend on what they wear, how much money they have, how good their grades are or even the amount of mistakes they have or haven’t made in life. I want them to know that they are loved and are valuable, no matter what. They are worth 1000+ 118 carat diamonds, even on their worst days.

And then when I wake up in the morning frustrated with a bad hair day and my chubby thighs, I want to see myself the same way. I want to remember that my value doesn’t depend on my car running smoothly, on my kindness to the guy that cut me off in traffic or my dress size. How crazy is it that I find myself adoring these amazing youth with eyes of love and then looking back in the mirror at myself with harsh scorching eyes, cataloging my faults, imperfections and mess-ups?

We are valuable. We are lovable. We all deserve respect, kindness, and compassion. When we fall in the mud, we can help lift each other up, clean each other off and support one another as we try again. My goal is to try remembering the 118 carat diamond next time I’m annoyed with a slow cashier, the old lady with her blinker on and my mascara-stained morning face (because once-again I forgot to take off my eye make up before going to bed).

You are amazing! You are a big deal! Don’t forget it.

Be somebody that makes everybody feel like a somebody