People like judging others, and it is quite easy to judge me as your run-of-the-mill stick-in-the-mud. Milling mud can cause people like me to run into a lot of sticky situations because of the hydrated dirt, but that is honestly ok. Maybe people think that this label is one to be ashamed of, but there is literally no “shame” in the phrase stick-in-the-mud, so they are completely wrong in this regard. I cannot find the word “shame” in that phrase anywhere, and neither can you! Here is a list of reasons why it is okay for anyone to be a stick-in-the-mud.

1. Sameness breeds loyalty!

Stick-in-the-muds are very loyal to their mud. As a stick that is stuck, I cannot simply change my mud whenever I feel like it. I cannot act on sudden whims and see that mud is greener on the other side like grass because mud is mostly the same color everywhere, unlike grass. The notion of the grass being greener on the other side figuratively and literally goes over my head because it is stuck in the mud. Mud breeds equality and loyalty, grass breeds comparison and competition.

2. Mud is a natural exfoliant!

This may sound like a paradox and/or an oxymoron, but in order to be cleaner, sometimes you have to get dirty and use exfoliants. What better way to remove all of my dead skin cells than to be a stick-in-the-mud? Honestly, I cannot think of a better alternative. Did you know that pigs stick themselves in the mud to regulate their own body heat? They are the real (pink) sticks-in-the-mud, and their skin is better than ours.

3. We are reliable!

If I am always ordering the same foods and drinks, my predictability makes it easier for everyone else to interact with me. Reliability and consistency are two valuable traits in professional domains. People can trust me when I am predictable. Constantly adhering to my own personal mud shows others that I am reliable and consistent, which important for both my work and my personal relationships. It means that I take life as it comes to me, constantly improvising while staying rooted to the ground.

4. Most sticks were once a part of trees!

At one point, I was more than just a stick. I was a stick that was attached to a tree, which is also known in most social circles as a branch. This is a beautiful metaphor because it implies that I branched off and found my own sense of individuality. Being a stick-in-the-mud implies that I am pliable like wood as I would be able to adhere to my own values and yet appreciate the diversity in the air around me (since only a part of me is actually stuck in the mud and the other part is exposed to the air).

5. I should be myself because that is self-love.

Self-love is a popular concept, and it is important because we all need acceptance of ourselves and of others. No one is perfect, and I do not want to be perfect. I want to be myself and appreciate the diversity around me. I love knowing that I do not need to be everything because we as humans are social animals, we should strive to meet the people that make us feel like we have a community of everything.

I want my true colors to show, even if those true colors are every shade of brown from being both a stick and also being stuck in the mud. Maybe that is not my favorite color literally, but the metaphor is figuratively real: accepting ourselves for everything we are and striving to do what is best for ourselves and our community is good for our health and happiness. Sticks-in-the-mud must stick together like our names imply like the pliable wood that we would "beleaf" to be similar to.