The Humanity Mural: You are needed here

I imagine this all the time:

I picture everyone in the whole world standing in front of a long wall - not the kind of wall that keeps anyone in or out; the kind that provides a surface to paint on. We’re painting a mural on this wall. The mural represents humanity, and every person is painting their part.

Can you imagine how beautiful and inspiring and vital that mural would be??

Each person paints in whatever style they want, using whatever colors they want. Some people are using brushes. Some people are using spray paint. Some people are using rollers. And some people are using all three.

Everyone has the same amount of space. Each person is encouraged to fill in their whole space in whatever way, at whatever pace, they want.

Can you picture the riot of colors? The juxtaposition of images and styles? The varied themes? Can you picture the pure expression displayed on this mural of humanity, this mural of us?

I honestly get a little overwhelmed thinking about it!

Here’s the thing about this mural: it needs everyone to participate. It needs you to show up and do your thing that is uniquely you (aka: be your awesome self). You are a part of the story, and your part is as big as everyone else’s.

The Humanity Mural needs you to contribute your colors and your perspective because without them, the mural is lacking. Your contribution significantly adds to the richness of this mural. Your specific painting makes it more interesting and more meaningful.

This part is important to say: you are needed here.

For so long, I believed that my contribution was only worth something if it exceeded a certain standard. I believed that my colors were inferior to everyone else’s, so I hid them. If I were put in front of my space at the mural, I’d try to take up as little of it as possible and make my painting as inconspicuous as possible. I’d be worried about people judging it.

Can you imagine how boring that mural would be, if we were all trying to take up as little space as possible? Can you imagine how bland it would be if we believed our contribution didn’t matter or was unwanted? Can you imagine how uninspiring it would be if everyone was trying to avoid judgment?

If you believe that you don’t matter or don’t have anything “worthwhile” to contribute, please remember the Humanity Mural. We tend to be blind to our own contributions, especially if we were told or shown in childhood that we weren’t important. Every person matters. Every person’s story is important. Every person’s perspective will inspire someone else. We can’t have a joyful, complicated, fascinating, representative riot of colors if we don’t have yours.

You are needed at the mural, the same as everyone else. We are all needed here.