“I have five fingers… each different, all needed.” This was my mother’s response to my question “Who’s your favorite daughter?” Of course I wanted to be the one, but favoritism was not part of my mother’s DNA.
Growing up with such a mother, the Dose follows suit… no one is my favorite sister, favorite friend, or favorite colleague. My eye is quite keen on who’s the favorite of whom and I definitely know when I’m favored. It does feel quite nice but when I’ve been the un-favored one, well, it’s down right disheartening.
Favorite, favorable, favored one… it’s what I craved as the baby of the family. But now I see the danger of favoritism. It is quite ugly when favoritism is in full sight. Siblings can be affected for life. Employees can become disgruntled.
My mother had it right – each person should be considered distinct and no one should be favored over another. Favoritism is for inanimate objects. So go ahead, enjoy your favorite champagne in your favorite cut-crystal flute while celebrating the specialness of each person in your life.