One Size Fits All Medicine – Lessons from the Playground

Do you know of that children’s toy where you put the 3 dimensional shapes (circle, triangle, square, etc) and have to put it through the appropriate cutout of a box?

Most people figured out how to use this toy by at least 18 months of age. It is a simple toy really; shaped blocks match up with their identically shaped holes and will not fully enter the box unless the block is exactly the same shape. This simple concept can be grasped by most children at one year old, but for some reason this idea becomes more difficult to understand with age.

What do I mean here? Of course, most adults can recognize that square blocks will only fit through square cut outs and circles through circle cut outs. That being said, when blocks are later individuals at school, activities, or work, this simple concept goes up in flames. Human beings have an instinctive need to fit in and fitting in with someone is a necessity for happiness. Making friends in everyday life is extremely important, but forcing a friendship is not. In my adult years I have found myself forcing my somewhat quirky personality into groups of individuals who merely accept me.

But why? I lost touch of the simple concept of fit. Playing with blocks shouldn’t be a struggle of forcing a circle block through an octagon cut out. Similarly, fitting in with a group of friends shouldn’t be a constant struggle of asking to hang out with no reciprocation. A session with a health provider shouldn’t feel sterile, either.

What I am really saying here is when you feel left out or lonely, your shape isn’t the problem and you shouldn’t conform to the cut out you wish you were. Find a cut out that accepts every quirky curve you have! Every individual has a special blueprint that simply cannot be changed and shouldn’t be changed for that matter. Your circle girly-girl personality can match up closely with your friend’s octagon drama queen, but it is more than okay if not every aspect of your inner fisher woman matches up.

There are currently 7.4 billion people living on this planet and only about 12 geometric shapes. In other words, there is bound to be someone who you fit in with. So next time you’re stressed about a friendship that just wasn’t meant to be, stop forcing yourself into a group of A-holes (pun intended) when you were made to be a star.

Making changes can be scary but you don’t have to do it alone. Let’s work together to find answers for your health!