Not everyone likes Orange(s)

Yesterday, mum got some oranges from the market and from the look alone it was apparent that it’s juicy. Before my ever-hungry pounce on it, I took two. One for myself and the other for my cousin. I gave it to her with the expectation of getting a “Thank you” from her but she returned it saying she doesn’t like orange.

I was speechless for a long time because this will be the first time I will hear such, so I went on google and typed the first thing that came to my mind “Do some people hate oranges”. To my surprise, my cousin isn’t the only one with a dislike for oranges. I then remember how @PrincessBusayo brought out a lesson from the rat disturbing her room, so I decided to bring out a lesson from what I just learned too.

You can’t be loved by everyone

When it comes to love, hate and all things in between, I've never really seen the need to try and convince people that my way is right. You can't please everyone and I've come to a point where I know that what I like and what makes me happy doesn't have to have universal approval to be valid. No matter how nice you are there will always be people that don't like you, instead of wasting time trying to win them to your corner, just celebrate those that love and cherish you.

No matter how ripe and fresh an orange is, some people don't like orange juice. The same situation applies to you. You may be the sweetest, nicest, kindest person on the planet but there will always be people that don't like you and it's okay, trust me. 

I know that no one cares as much about you as you do, but more importantly… no one is you. If someone doesn't like you or doesn't agree with something you did or said, let it wash off you like water on a duck's back, because life goes on without an apology from anyone most times.

Even Jesus had Judas, even Gandhi had Hitler, and even Oprah had her haters. So get that frown upside down, love yourself not just because you're beautiful but because you're one of a kind.

Don’t let a mistake define you

Still on the hatred for orange, I thought of things that might cause the hatred and I asked my cousin but she said she can’t even say why. Maybe she had a terrible experience involving an orange when younger. Maybe she ate the flesh which is bitter or it’s just natural hate.

I know that at some point in our lives we all make mistakes, I know we all have things to work on and I know that most people are going to put you down no matter how hard you try. It's sad but true, most people are only focused on taking advantage of others and not lifting others. It's no wonder our society is struggling more than ever before and it's no wonder the youth is so lost in the world we live in. Instead of doing all they can to help themselves and their peers succeed, most of our peers just feed off of negativity, hate and envy. I once asked myself why people like this exist.

I guess instead of getting angry about it, I just realized that "They aren't worth my time", by saying that I'm not saying that they shouldn't be cared for or helped but if they are not willing to change or even though they tend to do bad things, they should be left alone despite their bad behaviour because ultimately what they give off doesn't deserve any attention or even energy spent on giving them attention.

If you aren't happy with your situation and the way you are, do something about it. Self-love doesn't mean you have to love yourself and only have good things to say about yourself but it means that you have to focus on the good you can change and leave those you can't change. Surround yourself with positive people, find like-minds that can help with your growth and don't worry about those who only see the bad in you.

Conclusion

It's okay to be different and stand out from the crowd. I encourage you not to conform just to make people like you, but to fulfil your purpose. You may be that orange who is different from the rest of the oranges in the tree, but always remember that you are fresh and juicy.

Everything comes with a price and every action has a reaction. You can't please everyone so it's okay to be different and stand out. Don't be afraid of criticism, sometimes even your favourite oranges may look sour to others. Embrace your uniqueness and love yourself because only you can change yourself!

Whatever you do, do it with purpose and don't forget that when the world gives you lemons, you may want to make orange juice but you can also give them back and make them cry.

Thanks for Reading! 🍊💚 👅