There is a simple and undoubtedly true fact that flows around us: there is only one you in the world.

This is a bit of a reach, but humans have over one hundred billion neurons in their brain, all rapidly firing to send nerve signals throughout the body and, well, keep you functioning. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of neurons, or brain cells, is that every neuron is unique- in other words, no two neurons are the same.

Humans are just like this- we are all unique, there is only one of you out of over seven billion other people. So I guess the first step to becoming an individual in this great big world is to realize this. Dr. Seuss put this into one amazingly perfect phrase:

“Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you.”

Is that not just a wonderful thought? You are you! Every person has their own unique and priceless quirks- having to sleep on one side of the bed, eating carrots with Nutella, genuinely enjoying tuna melts- these are all quirks that tap into the individuality of, well, the individual!

Now, learning to accept yourself as an original being, quirks and all, is so much easier said than done. Undoubtedly, a natural human instinct is to clique up with like people and try your hardest to blend into your surroundings.

This simply will not do.

We are made to conquer the world, to make it ours! An even more natural instinct in every human’s brain is the need to make a mark on the world. Cavemen did it with, like, cave paintings, world explorers did it by travelling the globe, and we can do it everyday by living in the world, loving ourselves, and touching the lives of others.

Loving yourself is hard. It’s simple yet so, so hard. Yet there is a pretty simple way of learning to accept yourself- accept others too.

There’s this pretty awesome word sonder. Simply put, it is “the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own.”

You know all of those seven billion people mentioned above? Yeah, they are all individuals too. It’s pretty normal to get caught up in your own head and to forget about those around you and it’s even okay sometimes.

However, it’s pretty unusual, quirky even, to step outside yourself and see others as just as amazing and composite as yourself. Once you start to do this a little at a time, the rest becomes easy.

I will say this one thing, though- recognizing and appreciating others is not even related to comparing yourself to others. The fact that they are themselves and you are you is how we are meant to be. It’s the axis upon which the world spins, each person contributing something only they can.

So, to sum up, you- an individual on this great big planet- are you and that is amazing. Others are themselves, and that is amazing too. As soon as we start to care and accept one another based on these facts, hate simply cannot exist in this world and maybe love can finally take over.

Have anything you want featured on Just Peachy? Come let us know anytime in Ms. Hall’s classroom, B124! Tune in next week- we post every Tuesday!