MISFITS
When I go to my favorite supermarket, the most frequent destination is the produce department which is located slightly to the right, almost directly in front of me. It shares that space with the bakery, florist, and deli. This design is based on years of observation and a ton of research of the buying habits of Americans by the grocery industry. I am going to go out on a limb and say that your supermarket is laid out much the same. These departments require constant mindfulness. Flower arrangements with wilting flowers are removed, fruit is constantly being rearranged and rotting or bruised pieces removed, fresh baked bread is only fresh for a specific period and the in house produced deli items sell out and need replenishing. These sections must be visually appealing. They are also the sections where you are most likely to find items that are used to design a healthy diet.
All the produce that one sees is arranged to be visually pleasing. It is the same size, color, arranged by category and species within the category. What happens to the misfits? We all know that apples, peaches, plums, peppers, or oranges don’t grow perfectly shaped or perfectly red, yellow, green, or orange. Nature doesn’t operate that way. There are a lot of misfits that don’t make it to the supermarket to be arranged to catch your eye or to be handled by customers like me. Some of it is destroyed, some of is donated to agencies that feed those in need and some is sold to businesses that sell the produce directly to the consumer. These companies know the misshapen fruits and vegetables taste the same as the seemingly perfect one and they profit from that knowledge.
The produce that doesn’t make it to the supermarket displays is still what it was meant to be despite the irregular appearance.
I am a misfit …you are a misfit too… some of my imperfections are more visible than others but the level of my misfit -ness is relative. There are no perfectly shaped, perfectly mental/emotional stable, and spiritually perfect people (my opinion).
I am a unique gift to this world. I would not make it into the display of Envy Apples at the supermarket which is what I have decided I would be if I was a piece of fruit. Envy Apples are crisp, sweet, have a high juice content, and can be sliced and left exposed for up to ten hours before turning brown. They have special cells on their skin that allow them to breathe differently.
The description fits me. Those who know me best might agree, but they might also tell you that I am more pear shaped than apple, my complexion is not perfect, my juice can be tart (spoken words) and if you hurt or cut me, I might retaliate quickly.
How I see myself, tempered by what my loved ones see and experience from me, makes me perfectly happy to be a perfect misfit. I like me. That hasn’t always been true. My misfit – ness sets me apart.
How often have you purchased the perfect piece of fruit only to bite into it and want a refund? Join me in being a proud misfit.
PONDER THIS THOUGHT --- Perfection is most likely found in the acceptance of imperfections.
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