
When I was in my teenage years and into my 20s, I remember constantly comparing myself to others.
“How cool would it be if I could be as confident as her?”
“Wow, she has such an attractive personality—how nice it would be if I could be like her.”
“How amazing it would be to work as an air steward like her,” and so on.
But now, in my mid-30s, I wish I could go back and tell my younger self:
It’s healthy to be inspired by the ‘colors’ of others, but don’t forget—you have your own unique color and shine, too.
This Zen saying, “Each person has their own colors” (directly translated from the Japanese “十人十色”, or “Ten people, ten colors”), is a reminder that each of us is a universe unto ourselves.
Everyone has their own unique way of living, of making a living, of understanding the world, and of interpreting success.

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