There are so many factors that can cause a person to change: an event, a song, a person (or the lack thereof). Each of those has had its toll on me, but if I had to pick something that changed me, it would be one of the most amazing books I have ever read, "Every Day" by David Levithan. I know, that sounds incredibly cliché, but even I never thought that some words on pages all stitched together would rewrite the way I look at life.
"Every Day" is a book where the main character, A, falls in love with a girl named Rhiannon. Sounds like a typical “teens in love” story, right? Here's the catch: A is not a person. A is a personality, a spirit, if one must, who switches bodies every single day. He's never the same person twice. A has to prove his love for Rhiannon no matter what physical boundaries trap him in. He inhabits the body of a girl, a boy, multiple races, and different sexualities. Somehow, many call it the power of love, Rhiannon can always see A in every body, no matter who he is.
I ended up reading that book, cover to cover, when I felt a little less than my usual self. There's just something about it that drew me in like a magnet. I found a sense of comfort when I read it. I experienced so many emotions and felt so close to A, yet every time I turned a page, I found something I missed the last time. Every time I closed the book to finish, I sat there lost in thought. Every time I read the book I could not help but wonder, Rhiannon always knew who A was because of who he was inside, so what does everyone see in me? What sets me apart?
Ever since I read "Every Day" for the first time, which was years ago, I tried to live my life with those questions swirling in my mind. I want to be known as the person who made someone smile when they were having a bad day. I want to be known as someone who genuinely wants to help people. I do not want fame or fortune or my name in lights. I do not have to be known by everyone, they do not have to turn their heads when they hear my name. It might not seem like much, but if I can leave a mark as someone who cared, I will be happy. It may not seem like much, but as David Levithan said in his book, “We all want everything to be okay. We don't even wish so much for fantastic or marvelous or outstanding. We will happily settle for okay, because most of the time, okay is enough.”
It was an empowering mindset to be in. It made me feel like I had a purpose to fulfill. It was a new feeling for me, after being extremely self-conscious for so long. I finally started opening up to myself and embracing my uniqueness. Instead of hiding what made me the person I am, I started using it to my advantage. My passions seemed to take flight and the wind carried me to all the right places. My thirst for knowledge allowed me to meet incredible people, people who have inspired me to carry on with my dreams. My desire to spread positivity, to leave some everywhere I go gave me a push up towards inner peace. That delicate balance I maintained in myself has kept me grounded in my mentality.
"Every Day" helped me see the way the worlds works in a way I never considered. Prior to reading it, I focused on what other people thought about me. That question shifted to me thinking about why someone will remember me, of all people. It took me one book to realize that I will only be remembered for who I am as I person, that I will be remembered for my actions. It took me 322 pages to figure out that I will be remembered for myself.
