Last week was about trying something new and making Halloween costumes.  This week is about pumpkin flavored things and letting people love what they love.

As soon as it gets close to fall, the pumpkin announcements begin.  You know what I’m talking about.  The announcements from all the restaurants about all things pumpkin spice.  Pumpkin spice lattes.  Pumpkin custard and ice cream.  Pumpkin flavored beer.  All of a sudden, pumpkin is EVERYWHERE!  Once those announcements start, there is another wave that comes.  That wave is the wave of hatred for all things pumpkin and for the people who love pumpkin flavored things.  It sounds like this, “Pumpkin is gross!  Why in the world would you want pumpkin in your drink?  Why would you ruin good ice cream with pumpkin spice?”

What does this have to do with anything?  I personally don’t like pumpkin flavored anything.  At the same time, if that’s your thing, you do you.  One of my main philosophies in life is that as long as the thing doesn’t hurt the person or other people, let folks love what they love.  If you are a person who goes pumpkin wild in the fall, go get it in!  Life is too short to miss out.  If you have some other fall thing you love, go get that too.  Just don’t waste your time hating on the people who do love pumpkin spice.  (All of this also extends to people decorating for Christmas.  If you want to put those up now, enjoy!  If you like to wait until after Thanksgiving, that’s cool too.)

Now, while this all is kind of silly because we are talking about pumpkin spice, can you see how it applies to other things?  Have you ever judged someone because of a passion that they had?  Have you ever looked at someone who believed something different than you (that didn’t really matter or negatively impact anyone) and judged them for it?  I know I have.  I know I can be better.

The challenge: Can you let people love what they love?  More than that, can you be excited for them finding what they love?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry