Some of the most beautiful works of art come in the form of tile mosaics, especially those found in many Middle Eastern countries. The artists take sometimes hundreds of colors of tile and pattern them across a wall or a building or a minaret and create a breathtaking work of art. While you can find solid color architecture that is beautiful, they don’t catch one’s eye quite like a mosaic.
Aside from the colors and patterns, it is remarkable to think of the time and effort that went into laying each tile or even coming up with the design in the first place. Tile mosaics are a testament to what beautiful things happen when we put different items together.
If you’re not an art lover, but a foodie, consider the deliciousness that happens when you blend spices together. There is nothing better than a sweet dessert that has a touch of salty in it. Sometimes all sweet or all salty is too much, but a little bit of both makes it delectable!
Some people are collectors. They love bells, elephant statues, or baseball caps. Even if they love one thing, their collections do not carry hundreds of identical pieces. A person who collects bells may have glass bells, bells from different vacation spots, bells made by hand, or bells covered in shells. It wouldn’t be interesting if all the bells (or elephant statues or baseball caps) were precisely the same, to the collector or the friends who see the collection.
We often enjoy diversity in so many facets of our lives, like art or food, but we’re less apt to appreciate it when it comes to people. We don’t consider the value that people from different backgrounds, parts of town, socioeconomic levels, or countries could have on our own enjoyment of life. Our lives are made more full and so much richer because of the unique experiences and
perspectives each person we meet brings to our lives.
In Deedee Cummings’ book, Kayla: A Modern-Day Princess– Tough as Tulle, Kayla asks the question: “Why is everything different considered ‘special’ except when it comes to people?”
Consider your collection of friends and colleagues. Is it as diverse and enjoyable as our collections of rocks, flowers, or bells? If not, why, and what does this say to other people in your life, especially children? Your collection of friends should be as rich and diverse as any collection of memorabilia or art. Something to think about.