Honour community's tall poppies

"I know where I'm going and I know the truth, and I don't have to be what you want me to be. I'm free to be what I want." - Muhammad Ali
I believe that people come into my life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Whether they are known to me or I hear about their lives through social media, if I look and listen carefully. They all bring me a message. Sometimes it is a message about things I do that I may wish to change and sometimes it seems they are simply wanting to marginalise me.
Yet it is those who come into my life and seem to need to be destructive that challenge me the most. I know that it was a long time ago when the term 'tall poppy syndrome' was first noticed - this social phenomenon in which people who have earned stature in the community are resented, attacked and sometimes cut down.
We are so quick to attack people who are different or who disagree with us.
In the words of Lady Morella from Babylon 5, "Greatness is never appreciated in youth, called pride in midlife, dismissed in old age and reconsidered in death. Because we cannot tolerate greatness in our midst we do all that we can to destroy it."
This is especially noticeable as we begin to move into election time.
People are already being criticised because of their talents or their achievements which have elevated them above or distinguished them from others.
I feel a deep sadness for those who cannot find it within themselves to honour our differences, applaud our abilities to take risks and be exactly who we want to be and say what we need to say.
No matter the group or organisation it seems that in order to rise to some height within the organisation others must be removed. I believe that the tall poppy syndrome is simply the acting out of envy.
My angels tell me to surround myself with more positive people and to set myself higher standards every day. I look forward to being among people who challenge me, motivate me, celebrate me and congratulate me on my journey. Arohanui. Shirley-Joy