It's Time to Be More Open-Minded

I can't pick a favorite color. I love the color pink. I think it's a color that pairs well with many others, and more importantly, the prettiest sunrises and sunsets I've seen have the color pink incorporated into them. My love of the color pink doesn't diminish my love of the color green because I adore the bright green grass during my reflective walks. To me, it represents health and life. I can appreciate other colors in different contexts and value them for what they are.

Winter, 2021. I was on my way to dog-sitting when I saw this sunrise and pulled over at this random park to take a picture. It was super cold and snowy out. Maybe I was in a delirious state but definitely my favorite sunrise of all time.

This question always stresses me out because how can I pick a favorite color? Why should I diminish the rest of the colors just to pick what I think is best? Colors shine brightest when paired with other colors that make them pop. I often think about the color combinations in My Little Pony. Yellow might seem like a mid color to most, but when combined with certain purples, pinks, or cooler tones, it pops and becomes the most admirable color in the scheme. When I started college, I adopted this idea of not picking a favorite color for all aspects of my life. Sometimes we make judgments on things we’ve never personally experienced or truly thought about. Just like colors, different life experiences can be appreciated for what they are—each one adding to the overall richness of life.

If you somehow didn't know who TWILIGHT SPARKLE was, she's the one in the middle of the bottom row.

Growing up, I was strongly against drinking. My dad was an alcoholic, which brought some pretty traumatic points in my life. When my ex-boyfriend started drinking in high school, I was infuriated. I couldn’t say anything kind to him, only mean things. Why should I see the other side of it? To me, it was an action that only led to negative consequences. So, I stood firmly against all substances until I got to college.

It was the summer of 2022. Feeling safe with my roommates and celebrating the arrival of the weekend, I drank for the first time with them. That’s when I understood the other side of drinking—why people do it, what encourages it, what it feels like—things I could only understand because I tried it. It gave me a new, educational perspective. I understood why my ex-boyfriend drank in high school, and I no longer thought less of him. Instead, I felt a little guilty for judging him so harshly for something I had never tried. I still hold many of my values regarding substance use, but being open-minded gave me the chance to understand it more deeply and avoid judging others for their choices. I was able to further my values and back them up with my new experiences of substance usage. Trying it didn’t make me an addict—it made me more aware. It’s important to be open-minded without compromising your values. (Just because I chose to try it doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for everyone. What matters most is being thoughtful and responsible in your decisions, whatever they may be.)

Summer, 2022. LOL THIS IS ME TEXTING ALL MY FRIENDS "HELP ME" AFTER LIKE 2 SHOTS.

This shift in perspective extended beyond my stance on alcohol. When I first heard about SoulCycle, I thought it was dumb. I have to pay $26 to ride a bike to music for 45 minutes? Why not do something else for free?

During my summer as a mentor, my co-worker, who is a huge fan of SoulCycle, asked me if I wanted to go. She told me to go at 7 in the morning. My first thought was, "HELL. NO." However, I immediately recognized my bias and challenged my perspective. I only had to pay $20 (they had a 2-for-1 deal at the time) to see the other side and understand why people are addicted to it. Honestly, why not?

Summer, 2024. Post SoulCycle sesh!

It was so much fun. It wasn’t a boring cycle class—it felt like getting the most "conquer this day" vibes slapped into your soul for 45 minutes straight. I understood why this community is so strong and why people keep coming back. For me, I don’t go to SoulCycle to better my health; I go when I’m feeling particularly down and need Elise (my FAVORITE Soul instructor) to yell at me that I can indeed do it.

I want you to think of something you think is 'dumb' that you’ve seen someone do. It could be SoulCycle, eating a certain food, walking around without headphones—something that’s out of your character. I want you to go try it. Stop telling yourself that you are this way or that way, and therefore you can't do something. Yes you can! Adopt the mindset that you don’t know yourself as well as you think you do, and that there’s something to take away from every experience. In the end, we grow by experiencing the full spectrum of life’s colors, not by limiting ourselves to one shade. With these experiences, you might just find a new perspective, a new passion—or even a new ‘favorite color.’