Image. As human beings, it is only natural for us to care about the way people view us. But is that the driving force, pushing me to act a certain way? Do I do certain things because of the way people will view me?

As much as I want to answer no, I know that deep down inside image is something meaningful to me- rendering and molding my every action.

I remember the good old days, after the days that girls had “cooties”, but before the days that everything got complicated- the good old days of middle school. It was a late night at my friend’s house and we had waited for his parents to go to sleep because somehow I had lied my way into renting the R-rated movie 8 Mile, Eminem’s journey from rags to riches. From when the movie began to when the movie ended, I laid, mouth open in awe, and studied Eminem as if he were my God. You could say that I wanted to be just like him- a “hardcore Gangster rapper”. That day forward, I wore the “ghetto” clothes and talked in the “ghetto” all so that people could view me as “ghetto”. It was my image that drove me to do this.

Fortunately, I grew out of this stage and moved on to other “images” that better fit me. So why is that image matters so much to me? Better yet, in general, why do we as human beings care so much about the way people view us?

The problem is apparent. Millions of girls are anorexic, refusing to eat because they don’t want to be “fat”. When in reality, they are all beautiful. Millions of people shop at only certain stores, despite the outrageous prices because they want to be”in”. When in reality, they can purchase three other shirts for the price of that one shirt. I know I have no right to judge because I too am sucked in this worldwide problem.

I thought about it a lot. People go to extreme measures to fix an acceptable image so that society can accept them, so that they won’t be lonely, so that they will have girls or guys “checking them out” the next time they go to the movies.

The irony is, true friendships and relationships are built when we look beyond the brands of clothing.They are built when we search the within each others’ hearts to see God’s beauty within. I believe that all people are similar in a way that we are all sinners but we are also all different in way that God gave each and every one of us a certain diamond- each diamond rendered and molded in different ways. These diamonds rest deep within the tissues and veins of our hearts. They can be only be found if you search for them. You have to search and flash the light at the diamond in order that the reflections of light reveal its location- also revealing the beauty of our creator.

True friendships are made when we discover each other’s diamonds.

Ps: Thanks to all who have been there for me. Thanks to all who have dealt with me despite being a failure. Thanks to all who have found my diamond and continue to believe in me. This one goes to those people I call my true friends.

Quick shout outs to my other two stooges(who will probably never read this LOL), to f14 (my source of inspiration when it comes to brotherhood), to my sisters who have always been there for me(Hannah and Gina), to the man who thinks I suck at basketball(Sterling, brother, remember brotherhood can never be broken and family for life), to the Asian Ronnie Coleman (Simon, God is with you at all times),to my friend who happens to share the same name (Aric, keep it up your an inspiration to many, to my Spanish amigo (Christopher, be good brother!), and finally to my parents who love me no matter what. :D

Love all,

GhanDEEP