Popularity
“the state or condition of being liked, admired, or supported by many people”
Memories from my high school days bubbled up as I was drawing today’s MotD. Our family moved to a different state just before my junior year. It was 1969. I went from a Catholic high school of 600 students to a public high school of about 2,100 students. So drastic changes on so many levels. I went from wearing uniforms to mini skirts…from taking the bus to school to walking to school…from being a decent-sized fish in a small pond, to being a small fish in a very big pond.
I played it safe in my junior year…shy, studious, quiet…I joined the FTA (future teachers of America club). As the year progressed I made some friends, got a crush on a football player, and discovered who all the popular kids were.
Something clicked inside me before senior year…this was going to be my last year in required school. I wanted it to be a memorable one. I got involved in everything that sounded like fun to me. I performed in our senior variety show. I designed a full-size mural for our senior spirit week hallway. Our theme was “reach for the stars”, so I drew out and painted an astrology wheel (of course) with the appropriate images for all the signs. The popular kids joined in to help paint it…which led to them including me in more of their activities. I even participated in the spirit games…came in absolute last in the tricycle race…even so…it was super fun.
At the final assembly for that school year, the principal announced the winner of the female student with the most school spirit award…SURPRISE! it was ME! I had no idea this award even existed.
The funny (interesting) thing is…I never hung out with any of those kids after school ended…just the two best friends I made in junior year. I had a blast my senior year and I’m so grateful that I listened to that voice that said to make the most it. I also knew there was so much more ahead of me than being popular in high school.
I did check out some photos from our high school’s 50th reunion (I didn’t go…I’m sorry, Arizona in August is NOT my idea of fun)…the popular “kids” were all there.
So what’s the message today: when it comes to popularity we must ask ourselves the why of it. Are we popular because we did what everyone else was doing and we knew who to hang out with or are we popular because we stayed true to ourselves, followed our own path and along the way, people who resonated with that, choose to like, admire, and support us.
How about you? Is popularity a core value for you?
BTW…here’s what it looked like to begin with …
joyfully,
Maureen
The Mandala Lady
🏵️ creating mandalas — awakening creativity
About the 2024 Mandalas of the Day
Each day I will create and post a mandala inspired by one of 366 “value” words chosen randomly. The objective being to discover for myself which ones would best represent my core values…and by doing so, I hope it inspires you to determine your own.
Mandala of the Day 