Look beyond first impressions

By Anne Mukei

Over the weekend, my family and I took a drive out of town. Being a holiday, we wanted to experience something different, so we decided to try a new restaurant. We were all famished and could not wait to settle down to a good meal.

But things did not turn out as expected, or rather, as we are used to, and our reservations about the place were registered as soon as we walked in. But my little boy was already enjoying the bouncy castle, so we agreed to give him a few minutes and then take off to a more familiar place.

To cut a long story short, we ended up staying for much longer than expected. And we all had some good fun; the memories linger on. I know we shall go there again.

SKEWED

On our journey back home, I was reminded of a dress that I did not like much in the beginning. I thought the colour was just ‘not me’ and the design was also ‘not my style’. Even though it was a gift, it took me a long time to decide to wear it.

I can confess that it took a lot of courage to put on that dress the first time. Interestingly, it has become one of my favourites.

But is this not what often happens in life? From time to time, we find that we take to disliking something — an idea, a person, a song, a gadget — from the word go.

Sometimes, however, what we initially disliked grows on us. Then we are left wondering why we ever felt the way we did before. We wonder how we could be so wrong and ask ourselves how many other skewed judgments we have passed.

It is no wonder we are told not to judge a book by its cover. It actually means that people and things cannot be assessed correctly by what they appear like at first glance; it is necessary to get to know them before you can critic them.

Amazing

That dull book cover may be hiding the most enlightening content. That font style or size that you consider ‘off’ might be narrating the most amazing story ever. That rope that looks weak could be stronger than you can imagine.

That person that looks dull and ignorant may be one of the brightest and most interesting beings around. What you consider a bland-looking meal could be the most delicious.

My point is that it is important to always have an open mind, so that one can experience something from a point of innocence. That way, the experience will be fresh and novel. Otherwise, you end up riding on other people’s opinions, and miss something great and powerful.

The colour was just ‘not me’ and the design was also ‘not my style’.