As I sat outside tonight with the cats, watching them hop, jump, and sniff their way through the yard, my eyes were drawn to the clover growing in the grass. Instinctively, I began searching for one with four leaves—a good luck charm. Rare. Different from the rest.
That small act made me wonder: why are we, as humans, so drawn to rarity and difference? We hunt for rare antiques. We cherish four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, or found pennies as omens of good luck. We seek out new experiences and feel special when we’ve done something others have not, seen a place they haven’t, or discovered something unique. And often, we share these moments on social media. Maybe it’s for bragging rights. Maybe it’s to inspire others to experience them too. Either way, we share. We get excited. We feel special. Different. In a good way.
Yet, when it comes to people who are different, the reaction can shift. Too often, we shy away. Some even respond with unkindness or violence. And while many of us would never go that far, we may still judge silently. We may whisper to a friend, avoid eye contact, or simply look the other way instead of offering a smile.
So why is it that we can celebrate difference in things, but struggle with it in people? What if we began to see others’ uniqueness the way we see that rare four-leaf clover—as something valuable, worth noticing, worth celebrating? Even lucky to have in our lives.