Mismatch Beauty

There is a connection to life in most everything. Mismatched socks are one connection I see that demonstrates some of life’s truths. I believe in mismatched socks.

Amongst the monotony of similarity, “unfitting” differences can sometimes bring the most color to the world. Mismatched socks can be different in color, shape, and size but underneath they all reveal feet. Those feet are all connected to legs which are all part of a body. So, are mismatched socks really all that different? Are people really all that different? The beauty is, that although those two socks may not fit together perfectly in appearance, they still are connected by having the same purpose and both are always headed in the same direction. Life is full of mismatches.

Middle school was a hard time for me, one of the many, many times that didn’t seem to fit or be what I wanted it to be. I was awkward, very shy, uncoordinated, and too skinny and I just did not fit in. I’m not sure anyone really did, but it was hard for me to find true friends. I was made fun of for the high standards I was trying so hard to keep. I was made fun of for the clothes I wore and that I was terrible at sports because of my lack of confidence.

I was different. I did look funny in my clothes and I really was terrible at sports. Yet, underneath I still had strength in me. I had potential, a purpose and a destination. Although this is unique because it is not easily seen and my strength and purpose may be different, everyone is similar because all has something deeper inside. People can often be like mismatched socks. Life really is full of mismatches.

Again and again, just like in middle school, I find I have two different images in my mind. The one, perfect and the best I could imagine. The other is what is real and not so perfect. These two images hardly ever match, but I have found the best way is still to enjoy that mismatch.

I believe in mismatched socks because I believe in things that don’t always match perfectly. I believe in the hard times at middles school, without them I could not value the friends I have now as much. I believe in the awkward people. I believe in the funny looking trees. I believe in rain on wedding days, burnt popcorn, not-so-perfect first kisses, broken crayons, and so on. Often I overlook the imperfect things in life because they aren’t perfect, but the imperfects are sometimes just as beautiful because they are what make the perfect. Without the mismatches, there would be no matches. So I will continue to wear my long blue airplane sock with my brown and yellow checkered one because that pair is a mismatch beauty!