If Resistance was my first name, Rejection would be my middle. I’m fairly quick to reject anything that isn’t mine: ideas, opinions, suggestions. In fact, the knee-jerk response to doing so is so swift and frequent, I will be in line for a knee replacement soon. Much like it’s friend Resistance, Rejection has to do with keeping us safe within our own minds. Rejection means survival and preservation, if we want to get deep about it. But maybe there’s more to this rejection thing. Maybe we’re just ignorant of the facts.
In the produce department of my local grocery store, I recently noticed a woman studying a pint of blueberries. She scoffed when she saw the price and threw them down muttering to herself about how much that “little tiny container” cost. Unlike this disgruntled customer, I had a full understanding of why that pint of blueberries was what it was.
My father had a friend who grew blueberries when I was young. He had a huge run of “bushes” which, at my young age of 10 or so, seemed more like trees than bushes as I remember many of them were over my head. To protect his crop from birds, he built a chain link enclosure around them and topped it with mesh. My father’s friend was elderly and the blueberries were ready to be harvested. My siblings and I were volunteered to help with this task and were sent into the blueberry kennel where the door was closed behind us. From the porch steps, my father and his friend watched and directed us, careful to point out any blueberries we might have missed. It seemed hours had passed before they were satisfied that we had gathered enough and opened the door and set us free of the cage, full buckets in hand.
When it comes to growing and harvesting these little goldmines of nutrition, there is nothing easy about blueberries. Obviously, they need to be protected from birds and rabbits as they grow. And there’s no automatic or mechanical way to gather the ripened fruit without ruining the plants or the berries themselves. Tedious hand picking is where it’s at. Since blueberries are grown in full sun, that hand picking takes place in the heat. Whether you’re 10 years old or an adult, picking blueberries can seem like a never-ending task.
By the time that pint of carefully selected and packaged blueberries reaches your grocer’s shelves, quite a bit of time, sweat, and attention has gone into getting it there. The price is reflective of that. But before you put them back, consider what a healthful punch these little beauties pack from a nutritional standpoint. Blueberries are one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world and contain large levels and a broad range of antioxidants. Blueberries are antifungal/antiviral, can combat aging, boost brain function, fight cancer, support digestion, and more! Blueberries boost heart health and support eye health. But don’t just believe me, Google this information for yourself. Scientific studies and documentation abound on the health benefits of blueberries.
Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Something as simple as the price of a pint of berries can seem unmatched to its perceived value. That is, unless or until we know more about that particular thing. This is where withholding judgment until you have more information comes in handy. Remaining open and curious and doing some research reveals that the price of blueberries should probably be higher!
Bigger is not always better. Man-made is not always superior (or rarely ever, in my opinion) to nature-made. And value is not always apparent to the naked eye. What would I learn if I became curious enough to look past my current limited understanding of everyday things to consider its real worth and value. Do I really know all there is to know about the things that I reject? An idea? A person? What would happen if I took a chance and DIDN’T react with rejection but rather open curiosity? What would I find? How large would my world become? Would I become healthier mentally/emotionally/spiritually/physically?
Exercise: Think of a situation or person toward which you feel significant resistance. Sit quietly and focus on the situation or person. Now, instead of thinking negative thoughts, ask yourself these questions: What is not apparent about this situation or person? What are some things I don’t know or questions I could ask to gather more information? If approached with curiosity, what may change my mind about this situation or person? Would knowing more make me more accepting?
This blog post was contributed by Dawn Davis, a wonderful, compassionate, seeker of wisdom who gives the best massages in the world – ladies only! Here’s her contact info: https://www.facebook.com/DawnLDavisLMT/
