Impressionism.

As defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, "a theory or practice in painting especially among French painters of about 1870 of depicting the natural appearances of objects by means of dabs or strokes of primary unmixed colors in order to simulate actual reflected light."

As defined by the Internet encyclopedia, Wikipedia, "was a 19th-century art movement that began as a loose association of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence in the 1870s and 1880s.

I believe that impressionism can be better defined than just a stark era in the modern painting years. As I was sitting today in one of the local colleges here in Oklahoma City with my mother, I realized how vast and diversified we as Americans are. Tall, short, skinny, built, overweight, black, white, and anything and everything in between. It was then that my mind rested on our impressions of each other with our rather condescending and judgemental glances at each other.

We hold our impression of ourselves, others much higher than we ought. I noticed a young woman, who I must say was unnaturally overweight, rise from her table and gather her things. Shifting my glance slightly to her left I noticed two girls who seemingly could not un-glue their eyes from her face and body. Their faces went from joyous, to disgusted in the blink of an eye.

I immediately changed my attention, and refocused myself trying to not think of the things that were going through their uneducated minds. To be honest, it makes my blood boil to think that people who cannot help their weight, facial complexion, or lack of worldly worth get judged so vehemently. Can we not all accept each other as equal? Can we not focus on our own mishaps, and our own issues before putting down someone else?

It is a proven fact in my mind that a single judgemental glance can send a person over the edge. And anything could be waiting once they go over the edge; suicide, cutting, drugs, alcoholism, etc. The simple fact is it's not your place to judge those around you. Those people who look different than you do are all children of God, and only He can judge them.

I to have committed these silent crimes. My eyes have cast evil glances many a time. But I am learning to give people a chance, to look inward rather than outward. Life is much to short to make judgements based on the world, and your own conclusions.
Be happy. Be who you are, and ultimately forget what others think and you'll live a much happier life. Peace.