Outside the Fishbowl

I’ve lived most of my life feeling as though I were on the outside looking in. It’s like I’m looking in a fishbowl. I can see all the sparkly baubles and the exotic looking hangouts. And I can see the ones that live inside there. They all look so happy. They laugh and talk and spend time together. They take turns hosting parties where all the others ones who live inside can come and partake.

For a long time I’ve tried my best to figure out how to get inside that bowl. I’ve walked around the circle, looking for the entrance to no avail. I’ve tried to climb the sides, but they were too slippery, and I fell down. I’ve tapped the glass, trying to get the attention of someone, anyone, who could tell me how to get inside. People would come and look at me, and wave and smile. They would say how very wonderful it was to be inside, and how wonderful all the parties were, and how beautiful everything was, and how extraordinary all the people were, and how very lucky they were to be there. I’d listen intently, my excitement growing. When they would finish speaking, and it was my turn to speak, I'd congratulate and assure them that, yes, they were so very lucky to live inside. And then I’d ask how I could get in there and share in the fabulous life, and they couldn’t understand what I was saying. They would look at me as if I had started speaking a different language. Other times, they suddenly couldn’t hear me at all. They would turn and walk away, smiling as they went to see all of the other great people who lived inside with them. I would yell, “Wait! Come back! How can I get in?” But they never heard me. I would pound my fists into the glass wall yelling for them to come back, but they never turned around.

Finally, I gave up. I sat down beside the wall and cried. Why? Why was I the only one who couldn’t get inside? Why did I have to spend my life alone, only watching all of the fun from the outside? And then, one day, I looked up and noticed someone standing beside me, looking down. She smiled and held out her hand to me. I took it and stood up, and for the first time, realized that there were many, many people outside the bowl. It was astonishing! I looked around and saw lots of exciting places. I saw people going to fun parties together! They were having fun and they didn’t even live inside the glass! I relaxed. I began to smile and walk around with my friend. I started to have fun.

So, after living on the outside my whole life, I finally decided the outside’s not such a bad place to be. I mean, who wants to live in a fishbowl anyway?