How well do you appreciate your uniqueness, and what about others? When we’re young we try to fit in, looking and acting the same, often obnoxiously. But by the time we’re grown, if you’re being authentic, you’ve claimed your true self. This point was brought home to me while spending time with musicians from Haiti, who proudly claim their culture, their unique world view, while also loving what we have here in Lexington.
I’m always humbled, and a little ashamed getting to know someone from a place I have only experienced through the eyes of our biased media. I’ve been delighted and awed learning about their unique beliefs and attitudes, and seeing their appreciation of us makes me appreciate our uniqueness.
Here are some thoughts about appreciating uniqueness:
HONOR YOUR CULTURE
We are all from somewhere that has a unique culture, even here in the US. If you are from the South, the North, the West or the West Coast, we know what those regional differences mean. Honor yours and appreciate others for theirs. The cooking, the accents, the experiences that are unique to your area of the world are part of who you are. I fell in love with Haiti from the eyes of our guests – they rise above their country’s political problems. It’s important – Keep your culture alive.
HONOR YOUR COMMUNITY
I am grateful to live in a liberal, accepting community of open-minded people. This point becomes appreciated more when we have visitors. It’s delightful to see how well received our Haitian friends were everywhere we went. It makes me appreciate our community of like mind people. It isn’t bad thing. It’s normal to want a community that reflects your values. Seeing their positive reaction to us makes me appreciate our community more.
HONOR YOUR YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY
Our guests talked at length about their spouses, children, parents, their home life. And we have shared ours as well. We are alike in this way. We want to honor who we are, what is important in our lives. It’s what makes us unique. We lift each other up in this way–go ahead and be proud of it!
Let me know if this is something you’d like to explore.
