Iain Thomas Quote On Giving People A Chance and How Everyone Is Someone

“Joan of Arc came back as a little girl in Japan, and her father told her to stop listening to her imaginary friends. Elvis was born again in a small village in Sudan, he died hungry, age 9, never knowing what a guitar was. Michelangelo was drafted into the military at age 18 in Korea, he painted his face black with shoe polish and learned to kill. Jackson Pollock got told to stop making a mess, somewhere in Russia. Hemingway, to this day, writes DVD instruction manuals somewhere in China.  He’s an old man on a factory line.  You wouldn’t recognize him. Gandhi was born to a wealthy stockbroker in New York.  He never forgave the world after his father threw himself from his office window, on the 21st floor. And everyone, somewhere, is someone, if we only give them a chance.“

Iain Thomas, I Wrote This For You

Beyond the Quote (176/365)

What do you see when you look into the eyes of another human being? Do you see a person for what they appear to be? Do you see them for who they were? Do you see them for who they could be? It depends on the person, I suppose. When I look into the eyes of another human being, I try to see someone who, when given a chance, can become somebody. Somebody who has limitless potential inside that is only but waiting to be molded and realized. Somebody who is capable of great things. Somebody who can make a real difference in their world. I see this in almost everyone. But, not everybody sees it in themselves or others.

Our lives are complicated. Our upbringings were complicated. Our choices and decisions are complicated. Our future is uncertain… and is probably going to be complicated. We’re constantly distracted and rarely ever paying attention to what’s actually happening to us and those around us in the present. While, conversely, we’re so focused on what might give us immediate pleasure that we forget the power of delayed gratification and we forget to prioritize our future.

Many times in life, the people closest to us didn’t give us or weren’t able to give us the chances we needed to cultivate and nurture what’s inside to its full capacity. And that isn’t their fault to bear alone. I genuinely believe that we’re all doing the best we can, with what we have, where we are. But, I also believe that we’re all capable of growing, improving, doing better, and contributing in more powerful ways. And this belief is key because creating the ideal conditions for even one person to realize their full potential can be completely overwhelming—let alone trying to create those conditions for other people, too. For, when you see somebody who is realizing their potential what do you see happening in their life?

Somebody who has been given the opportunity to unconditionally dream? Somebody who has felt the warm embrace of love? Somebody who knows what it feels like to be supported? Somebody who has been given opportunity, space, and time to explore their inner workings? Somebody who has known mentorship and guidance? Somebody who has learned to embrace failure, make mistakes, and relentlessly cultivate their curiosity? Somebody who has been given access to resources to help facilitate their continued education (inside and outside of the classroom)? Somebody who has learned how to keep an open mind, challenge the status quo, and work well with others? Somebody who has obtained the confidence to stand alone, but the humility to join the efforts of a group? Somebody who is excited, driven, and has learned to pick a direction? All of the above? It is nothing short of a miracle when all of the ideal conditions come together for a person in their life.

This is why it takes a village to raise a child. In very rare circumstances can a child ever receive everything they need to realize their potential from only two parents. It’s simply too much. It take a village, our village, our united effort to raise our children to their full potential. It means that each of us has to do our part. It means that we all need to face our demons, confront what’s challenging us, take more initiative, genuinely try our best, and contribute to one of the most crucial efforts within any society—the effort of properly raising the next generation. What effort could be more important? What kind of selfish person only takes from life without giving to those who are going to come after? What might be more rewarding than contributing to the overall effort that helps another person realize their full potential?

We need your contribution. We might not be able to provide for all of the areas mentioned above alone, but each of us can certainly contribute in a few powerful ways. And it’s through that united effort that we will see this task through. That we will see the next Joan of Arc’s get their dreams unconditionally supported. The next Elvis’ get handed their first guitars. The next Michelangelo’s get their own chunks of clay and marble to transform. The next Jackson Pollock’s use paintbrushes in completely unique ways. The next Hemingway’s learn how to wrestle with words. The next Gandhi’s learn how to lead a movement.

But, none of that can happen if they’re never given a chance—or maybe just the right chance at the right time. That chance might only ever come from you. From your unique life experience; from where you are uniquely positioned in your society and from who you’re close to; from your unique situation and set of circumstances. The question is, will you be there to give it? I hope you will. For them; for you; for us.

---

Read Next: 10 Iain Thomas Quotes on Believing In Yourself for When You’re Feeling Low

---