Mismatched Earrings

About three weeks ago, I was so bummed out I lost yet another earring in someone else’s car. So far, the third one this year and to think 2007 is far from over yet.

This is precisely why I don’t buy expensive jewelry at all. Nevertheless, every pair has a story behind them – there was the cheap mickey dangles I found at a sidestreet in Bangkok for only 20 baht; the pearls a guy friend patiently scouted around the mall to give me as a Christmas present; the silver heart earrings I always wore to charm first dates; and the stories go on... And it’s for these damned sentimental reasons I can’t seem to part with the half-pieces left.

To punish myself, I started wearing mismatched earrings this month. I figured the remaining half pieces should not be cast aside just because I couldn’t hold on to their pairs. Besides, they’re still too pretty anyway.

Maybe it’s habit or simply my twisted taste for the absurd, but today, as I put on another mismatched pair, I realized the earrings actually look charming… interesting… kewl on my ears.

And as I spent an extra minute or so in front of the mirror basking in the newfound "kewlness" of my mismatched earrings, I started thinking about relationships.

Why is it that in relationships and in life, people seem to be so unforgiving about mismatched pairs? Why does the girl have to be shorter than the guy? Why do we cringe at the sight of a white and black hand holding? Why do we always want to marry a person of the same race or religion?

All our lives we keep looking for that perfect match. Dating web sites have even cleverly developed specific profile categories to easily mix and match singles. Got the same religion, interests, age group, education, race…? Then you are a perfect match! Or so they say. Bring on the bells!

Sometimes I wonder though—by insisting on our perfect matches, have we become blinded to the interesting beauty of our mismatched pairs? Have we missed out on the fun of being with an unlikely single?

Why are we so quick to dump a guy just because he wears the wrong shoes, got the wrong degree, or burps after every happy meal? Do we just discount that good sense of humor then just because he failed all other criteria?

Sometimes I wonder if the pursuit of the "perfect match" is in fact the very reason why too many couples get bored with each other eventually.

Wearing mismatched earrings has made me realize there is a certain freedom and lightness in accepting the less-than-perfect. By expecting less, you enjoy more. You don’t worry too much about losing a piece.

And when you think of it, for as long as you don’t force your taste on anyone, no one really cares about your mismatched earrings or men.

Maybe this is just my crazy self talking. Maybe this is just me rationalizing my carelessness. Maybe someday, I too will look for that perfect match.

But right this moment, I don’t really care. For today I find that wearing mismatched earrings suits me just fine.