March 24. Earth 🜃: The Body and the Mundane
These are Not My People
As Earthlings, we must socialize. I once spent three days at a work conference in Boulder, Colorado with fellow school teachers. We had a lot of fun and learned some new strategies for our challenging jobs. Everyone treated me well, and I was glad to have gone. Still, as a single mother in addiction recovery, I did not relate to these coworkers on a personal level. These folks were raised in two-parent families, now married in the suburbs, normal social drinkers, and like many teachers, they were well-traveled and politically charged. I was none of those things. I can hang out with a lot of good people, whom I appreciate, respect, and enjoy, but that does not mean they are truly my people.
Related Expertise
“I say to myself that hate is too great a burden to bear. I have decided to love. If you are seeking the highest good, I think you can find it through love.” ~Dr. Martin Luther King
Inspired Action
When you must immerse yourself in less comfortable circles for social reasons, remember that you can honor your differences. You do not have to agree with everything others do and say in order to find this time worthwhile. See this as an opportunity to observe and learn, to show curiosity, and to see the beauty in those who are also human – just like you. If you find that you are significantly excluded, smile warmly and excuse yourself. Detach with love. Go home and call a friend; watch a great movie; get a good night’s rest. This is not a crisis. This is not even about you.
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