Acceptance & Understanding

This morning as I was wallowing in self pity, I started thinking. What if these trials we face are not just for ourselves, but also to teach those around us acceptance and understanding.

Fruits Baskets

A Fairytale for the Rejected

I love Anime a little, ok well a lot. Ever since I was young. I grew up watching Astro Boy, Dragon Ball, The Samurai Pizza Cats, and many more. But I found this series on Netflix and it struck something in me.

When high school student Tohru Honda's mother dies in a car accident, Tohru begins living in a tent and supporting herself. That is, until she finds a home in the least likely of places, inhabited by her classmate Yuki Sohma and his cousins Shigure and Kyo. The Sohmas however, live with a curse. Thirteen members of the family are possessed by spirits of the Chinese zodiac and turn into their zodiac animal when hugged by the opposite gender, are weak, or when under stress. When Tohru discovers the Sohmas' secret, she promises not to tell and is allowed to keep living with them. The Sohma's curse, however, is deeper and darker than Tohru realized, but her presence soon becomes a large, positive influence on those possessed by the zodiac. She sets out to break the curse, and on the way, meets and discovers each of the Sohma's vengeful zodiac spirits. Each has a different personality, just like the animals in the Chinese Zodiac. Tohru's existence changes the Sohma clan's lives forever...
From Wikipedia

I was able to relate to the characters in the story in a way I think most can’t. I have felt; I have been cursed with this secret that I have no control over. I did not choose this, but I have to deal with the shame and fear that comes with being transgender. The whole series deals with finding acceptance and understanding with both yourself and also with others. There are many inspirational quotes about acceptance and understanding…

[To Kyo Sohma]
If you think of someone's good qualities as the umeboshi in an onigiri, it's as if their qualities are stuck to their back! People around the world are like onigiri. Everyone has an umeboshi with a different shape and color and flavor. But because it's stuck on their back, they might not be able to see their umeboshi. "There's nothing special about me. I'm just white rice." [in her head] That's not true. There is an umeboshi -- on your back. [aloud] Maybe the reason people get jealous of each other, is because they can see so clearly the umeboshi on other people's backs. I can see them, too. I can see them perfectly. There's an amazing umeboshi on your back, Kyo-kun.
[To Kyo Sohma]
(referring to the letter for Kisa from the teacher) Here. It says to 'like yourself.' But good things about yourself... how are you supposed to find them? I only know things I hate about myself. 'Cause that's all I know, I hate myself. But even if you force yourself to find good things... it feels so empty. It doesn't work that way. People like your teacher just don't get it. I think... when you hear someone say they like you, for the first time... then you can begin to like yourself. I think when someone accepts you, for the first time... you feel like you can... forgive yourself a little. You can begin to face your fears... with courage.

I also feel one of the characters may be transgender. It is just a hunch, but it does not say anything directly. I found the show fun, inspirational, uplifting, and full of the typical Anime humour. You can watch the sheries on the Funimation website.