Celebrating Differences

I am a highly motivated person and canÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їt help but setting high standards for myself. Sometimes I made the mistake of evaluating someone as incapable if they donÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їt measure up to my standards. I only felt at ease if I made important club decisions and carried out business myself. But that changed during one particular incident. I was frustrated when I learned that most of the clubÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їs members forgot to buy their own yoga mats after I had asked them to bring their mats at the previous meeting. I was lost in fury at their forgetfulness and frivolous attitude towards the situation, when a club member proposed that she could help buy the yoga supplies for everyone. I was relieved and at the same time stirred from this period of egotistical oversight, realizing what a stubborn despot I had been. I had never seen the 13 of us as a team and rejected help from them. That day I resolved to trust other team members and relied on their ideas and help for solutions and future improvements.

I realized that the invariable differences of personality, perspectives, or backgrounds of people makes us inclined to work individually, which is a damaging mistake. As the old saying goes, Ð'ÐŽÐ'ovariety is the spice of lifeÐ'ÐŽÐ'±. Having recovered from my previous blunder, I found that everyoneÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їs diversities were unique and that we should appreciate the contributions made to the group in the excellence of each individualÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їs limitations. Stirred on by the spirit of teamwork, we shared our skills and experiences in mastering the art of yoga. Although yoga is an independent sport, everyone in the Yoga Club made it their effort to learn to work collaboratively as a team.

As I look at how much weÐ'ÐŽÐ'Їve achieved so far through teamwork I reflect on my own gains and realize that my own thoughts of superiority have