What I Learned From A Pinterest Comment

The other day I saw this pin on Pinterest that said that only 2% of the population has green eyes. I commented on it, saying that both my parents have green eyes, but my brother and I ended up with blue. It was a random thing-- I'd commented on a few other pins so I didn't think much about it. Days later the comments on that one pin are still pouring in. It seems that everyone who has green eyes needs to say something about it. I learned two things from this:

1. Think long and hard before you comment on Pinterest, or disable the thing that sends you emails letting you know other people have commented. Last night I had no emails. I sat down to watch an episode of Cold Case (thank you, Ion channel for airing these back to back several nights a week) and after the show was over I noticed I had 37 new emails. THIRTY SEVEN. Almost every single one of them was another comment about green eyes!! So then I had to delete all of them and that made me grumpy. I realize this was not a monumental discovery, but perhaps I am saving someone from this same fate. This has been going on for several days and I am tired of the follow-up comments.

2. (This is an actual discovery and not something trivial like number one.) People want to feel special. I know. It's not rocket science. We all know people want to feel special on this basic level. But I'd never seen it played out like this, in black and white for all to see. (Or at least for those of us who are getting every. single. follow. up. comment.) Over and over people are commenting with this... exuberance over finding out just how unique they are. "I knew I was special!" seems to be the prevailing thought. In a world where everyone seems to want to follow the trends-- they want to wear what's in style, eat at the most popular restaurants, watch the shows "everyone" is talking about, etc.-- you have this simple thing of people wanting to simultaneously feel unique. Special. Exceptional. Part of the 2%, not the 98%.

I'm not sure what any of this means except that I learned something about people from this. And I hope it's something I carry into my dealings with them in the future. It has challenged me to Seek The Special in those I come in contact with. Whether it's their unique eyes, or their unique talent, their unique perspective, or unique background, I can seek the special-- and then point it out. I can remind them, "You're not like everyone else. You have something that makes you different from the masses. And that difference counts. That difference could make all the difference."

So that's what I learned from one random Pinterest comment. But I have to say, in the future, if I comment on a pin, I'm going to disable the follow-up emails.