If I reflect on my life, I recall not
feeling this way in junior high. I remember having an ignorant position of
feeling like "if you're in the US you should have to learn how to speak
English". I thought this point of
view was funny and I identified with it. Sometime between then and high school
my mind shifted into one that started to have an appreciation for
other cultures.
In high school my main group of friends was
"the" most diverse group. We were a blend of various races and backgrounds, and we
loved that about us. One moment that I'll never forget was going to an away
football game and walking with my friend Monique. As we passed by some girls
rooting for the opposite team, one of them looked at my friend with absolute
disgust and called her the n word. I was shocked, revolted, and had some type
of internal explosion. I couldn't even fathom that this just happened. What struck me the most was the way that the girl wanted to belittle my friend with such hatred, for no reason at all, as if she was somehow better than her. The next
thing I was literally aware of was being on top of this girl in the bushes. To
say the least I was deeply pissed about it.
I spent my twenties exploring different cultures and beliefs and learning more about my own. Throughout the years of life since then, I've learned
that people are different in many ways and that I LOVE THAT! There are various cultures, personalities,
and types of people. I've come to appreciate the variances. I've also found that when you have a team, it
adds a lot of value to include members with different ways of thinking and styles of approaching situations. It
truly elevates the outcome.
In these last few months of the presidential race, it's
been saddening and infuriating to see bigotry become something very public and at the same time cast aside as not being a big
deal. In the past few months, I've seen people I know display judgment and ignorance more than I've ever seen in my life. It's been heartbreaking to see. In some ways I'm thankful this issue is
being highlighted for everyone to be confronted with. But I feel like it's time
for us as a whole to take a huge step forward and grow up.
Last week in the Imperative leadership training I took, I was surrounded by
professionals who are extremely passionate and driven to ensure diversity and
inclusion in their workplaces. They are the ones that design and execute programs to ensure
that people of all backgrounds have equal opportunities to join their teams. They also help to educate the value of differences within their teams. These individuals don't do this work because it's their job. It's become their job because they are passionate about helping to create inclusion in the workplaces and beyond. I can't begin to
explain how deeply refreshing this was to me. Just seeing this group in action
and knowing there are others like them gave me such a deep sense of refueling.
And that's the whole point of this write up. The awareness that inclusion means so much to me in the depths of my soul. It carries great importance and with it, emotional power.
I'm so thankful to live in the time that we do. I'm so
grateful to have grown up in Southern California which helped me be surrounded
by more progressive norms. I appreciate my mom so much for being the one
that set this example for me in the flesh in the choices that she makes.
I could have easily decided to stay judgmental. I'm proud to feel
deeply motivated to appreciate and value inclusion. My kids are leaps and
bounds ahead of where I was at their age. That means so much to me.
Now one of my favorite moments of work is when my Argentinian coworkers giggle when I try to speak Spanish with them. What fun it is to celebrate our differences and enjoy them! Last week in an Uber ride, the driver was struggling to communicate with us. He has lived in the US for many years alongside Spanish speakers. Because of his new line of work, he was now required to learn to speak English. He shared his excitement of learning a new word that day. I have such respect for people that I run into who are working hard to learn a new language and are faced with people mocking them when they make inevitable mistakes.
What I've learned in the long run is that this all comes down to compassion. When you put yourself in someone else's shoes, and seek to truly understand why they may be the way they are, I find it extremely hard to cast judgment. I am by no means perfect. I deeply connect with the struggles that people have and feel a strong empathy for them when I get beyond my judgment and look at them without my biased filters. I hope to see the day where more people learn the value of inclusion and compassion.
To everyone who does their best not to judge others and
to appreciate the variances in individuals, hats off to you. :)
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