The world is Bipolar!

Really, no fooling! There is a North Pole and a South Pole! Two Poles, right? There-for, by definition, the world is Bipolar! (The defense rests.) Besides, by thinking of it all that way I feel less conspicuos when my Bipolar self does something really dumb, or if I say something particularly stupid. Thank goodness for the Edit button! I wish I had one embedded in the middle of my forehead. Even better, I wish everyone had one embedded there! That way, you could just reach out and hit the old Edit button when your tongue gets in the way of your eyeteeth so you can't see what you are saying. (I hate it when that happens!)

No, I don't really think the world is Bipolar! That would be just too much to ask. I do have to admit though, life would be much easier if it were. A bit chaotic perhaps, but guess you have to have a little bad with the good anyway! After all, isn't that what makes life a bit interesting? The way I see it, if the world was Bipolar, then we would all be "Normal", and not a second thought would be given toward those of "Unusual Behavior".

Just think of it, if you will. (Oh, come on, indulge me for a moment) Words like "Eccentric" would not exist. There would be no need for that word. People who are reffered to as eccentric, (different) would no longer be so! Why? How would you be able to tell? We would all be 'different'. Wait a minute. We are all 'different'.

Well, we are. There are no two people alike, anywhere. Oh sure, we all may have characteristic's which are similar to someone else, or we may resemble someone else, but that is about as far as it goes, really. Even in the case of identical twins, there are differences. (But why do so many insist on dressing alike?) When you come down to it, we are all, just a little different. That is, physically, mentally, and biologically.

It's true! There are no other finger prints that match yours. In that alone each of us are unique. Each of us comes with a one-of-a-kind set of Genes. Thank goodness for that! (I would hate having to fall in love with someone who looks like me!) In fact, even our eyes are all different! Oh yes, there are blue eyes and brown eyes, and green ones too, and just a multitude of shades and hues and little coppery flecks and stuff like that. But your eyes are so unique that you can be identified by patterns within them. We all even have different hair, and skin colors. In fact, the only thing that really does link us is the mere fact that we are all humans. All different in each of our own unique ways.

Some of us collect stamps, some of us love to garden, other's like to cook, some even pick our noses at red lights. (Now that one I can do without) But the point is, though we are all human, we all are different. Yes, we can always find someone with some of the same interests, but we all do the things we like to do, differently. Now I can think of a few things that someone might throw up into the air to try to trip me up. For instance, someone else who gardens might say, "Hold on there buddy, what about digging a hole? There is only one way to dig a hole for planting seeds!" (Well, thanks for bringing that up!)

Actually, that is not true. There are lots of ways to dig a hole for seeds! Maybe you use a trowel. Maybe you use your fingers. Maybe you drag the side of your hand along the soil to make a trench. Maybe you use a hoe. (I mean the garden utensil) Maybe some use the back of a heavy rake. Some persnickety gardners use a measuring stick and space their garden in a regimented, straight line on all the rows. But, as you can see by just these few suggestions, there really is more than one way to dig a hole. Or someone else may say there is only one way to collect stamps.

Well, you might have me there because I know nothing of stamp collecting. But, I will wager there are all kinds of different ways to collect them. Different ways of displaying them, or gathering them, or what ever else stamp collectors do. Perhaps an artist may say:

"But there is only one way to paint a picture!"

Well, don't push that chest out there too far and stop feeling all proud, because, again, there are lots of ways of painting a picture. Not only in technique, but in perception. If that weren't true, then all artist's renditions of landscapes and portraits and all the other fine paintings we enjoy visually would look alike. There would be no difference between a Monet and a Picasso.

Now, here is the rub. Because we are all different, a problem arises. "Different" is not always acceptible. As a matter of fact, because we are all different, we have things like, Hate, Prejudice, and War. The big three when you look at everything in a Positive verses Negative way. These three "negatives", Prejudice, Hate, and War, are the kings of chaos in our time. Each Negative perpetuates the next in this three. We tend to dwell in this state instead of trying to change. To look at things in a positive way. Instead of Prejudice there is Acceptance. Acceptance in seeing another as a Human, and accepting the differences between each and every-one of us. Instead of Hate, there is Tolerance for one another. (Notice I did not say Love. That is so, Hippie-ish! Besides, it is easier to be tolerant than to love. Love comes after tollerance is learned.) Embracing that which makes each and every-one of us different. Dare I say Peace, (Also hippie-ish, though a really fine concept, to me) instead of War. An idealistic and childish way of looking at things, huh?

If you think so, than thank some of your forefathers for that. Alot of them came to this "New World" with just those ideals. Some came looking for religous freedom, some for other types of freedom. But they came here because the place in which they were no longer suited them for what ever reason. Some chased their dreams here, and some just chased the dreamers, but they came, none-the-less, what ever they're individual reason was or is. And, there we are. All for different reasons, and all, different people, inside and out.

Yes, I am different than you. You are different from everyone else also. There is nothing wrong with that. Wow, what a concept. The sooner we all realize it, the better off we all will be. With that realization, comes "Acceptance" of individuality. With "Acceptance" of Individuality, comes "Tolerance" of that individuality, which see's fit to make each of us different, with our ways and beliefs. With "Acceptance" of individuality, and "Tolerance" of that individuality, comes Peace. Now as a realist, I don't see all that coming together all that soon, so at least for now, I suppose I could settle for "Acceptance." I suspect many of you would agree. (I hope)

Now I am not naive enough to think that if the world were Bipolar, we would have no war, and a peaceful co-existence with one another. However, if we were all Bipolar, we might forget where we put all the guns and bombs and stuff, possibly prolonging the outset of war. Actually, lets be honest. If we were all Bipolar, and we were all looking for the guns and bombs, chances are we would find something else to interest us, thus sidetracking our initial efforts, and prolonging the war even more. We would, possibly notice all the dust around and start on a cleaning frenzy or something! Or maybe we would spot the fishing gear stored in the survival gear and take off on a fishing trip! Or maybe we would find the guns and all that nasty stuff for blowing each other up, and get totally depressed at the thought. Who knows!?

So, what does all this prove? Well, we have established that the world is Bipolar. We have established we are all different. We have established that War sucks. (I just thought I would throw that one in just in case you had not come up with that opinion on your own.) But what remains constant is that Bipolar people are Bipolar, and Non-Bipolar people are not, though everyone is different from everyone else. (I am glad I am able to clear this all up)

So, while I get to join the ranks of people like DMX, (the rapper), Burgess Meredith, (from "Grumpy Old Men" fame), and Margot Kidder, (Oh, you all know who she is) as fellow Bipolar's, I gladly celebrate that we are all different in our own ways. You too can celebrate the fact that you are unique, and most importantly, you can exercise "Acceptance" of those who are different from yourself, for what ever reason it may be. Happy Bipoloring!