Comparing Crayons: Appreciating Our Differences!

Several years ago, I found this article written by Marvin Marshall, Ed.D., author of Discipline Without Stress, Punishments or Rewards: How Teachers and Parents Promote Responsibility and Learning.

The title intrigued me. The words also resonated with my all Brain Colors.

I trust you will enjoy the thought-provoking message about appreciating our differences and sharing that message with our children.

Do you compare crayons?

Comparing is such a natural activity that we become
a victim of its effects.

Every time you compare yourself with another and think
lesser of yourself, you fall into the abyss of a useless
activity. Your feelings fall with you, and you have gained
nothing.

On the other hand, the opposite occurs when you feel
better because you think you are better than the other
person. Your feelings soar. But to what avail? Does it
add to your humanity to know that you are “better”
than someone else?

We may never break the “comparing” habit, but a start
would be to put some money in a jar every time you
compare yourself with someone. You may find that in
a very short period of time you will have accumulated
a small fortune. (Now, that could be useful.)

Think “different” — not better or worse. (This, by the
way, is what diversity is all about.)

As youngsters use crayons, they should be taught that,
although all are different, they all make contributions.
We pick and choose because of the differences, but
this does not mean that one is better than the other.

Which is a better color: red, blue, purple, green, orange,
yellow, etc.? Because I have listed red first, does that
mean I believe red is a better color than the others?

As the artist uses colors for different purposes, learn
from others, but refrain from comparing — unless you
want to start a savings account.

If you compared your Brain Color Personality to a crayon,
which color would you be?

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