Monday, August 29, 2011
I'm taking you on another little life lesson moment...and it's all about getting to know you!
I am lucky enough to have a husband that I can drag to occasional chick flick without major complaint (Im sure there is some ulterior motive on his part...but we wont go there today)...When "The Help" came out in the theaters, I was totally stoked because I read the book and loved it. Just a side note, that if you have not seen it, or read the book, you have got to because it is an amazing story! It is set in the 60's and is about black maids that work for white families. The maids were treated as second class citizens for sure, and had no real hope of anything ever changing, until a young writer comes along and gets them to tell their stories. The story is deep, powerful, and moving! When we left the theater, we talked about how glad we were that times were not like that anymore....and then I got to wondering, are they really that different???
~I know what you are thinking,
"ok, here she goes on a tangent"....
but stick with me~
It is so easy in life to limit ourselves to situations that we are comfortable in, and people we are comfortable with. Its tempting to stay on the surface with people, to not open up to really knowing them and to make judgments based on appearances. Straight up racism might be better now than it was then, we all may be more equal, but are we really open to each other? Are we passed being judgmental? Do we listen to a respect each other? I'm not fully convinced we are passed all of that.
I want to share just two things that are really on my heart with you...was that a gasp, because you think Im going to keep it short and sweet??? Well you are right....
One thing this blogging, facebooking, social networking stuff has done is open me up to a whole bunch of people that I would have never crossed paths with. I've learned that everyone has a story. It's easy to look at someone from the outside and think you know what their life is all about. It's easy to be judgmental because of what they look like, the house they live in, and what you think their story might be...But it is amazing that when you really dive in, you find out what their stories are really all about. Some lives are filled ease, some with struggles, but all with interest. I am left wanting to know more about you all...more about your lives, your thoughts and who you really are. I have met people that I would have walked passed in a grocery store, I have learned from people that I never would have dreamed had something to teach. I have shared similar life stories with some, and been blown away by the roads some have walked. Mostly what I have learned, is that you truly cant judge a book by it's cover (I know cliché, but true..) You are amazing and interesting to me. You have given me a desire to know more of people and focus less on me. And I gotta be honest here for a minute and admit to liking the comfort of my "bubble". The familiarity of close friends and the ease in keeping things to myself. As selfish as it sounds, I don't love to put the time into new relationships when I barely have time for the ones I already have...did I just totally contradict myself??? I guess so, but what I'm saying is that I am learning. And what I am learning is to put myself out there to get to know other's stories....I don't want to assume things about others anymore, I want to really know them...would you try it with me?
So I guess my two deep thoughts that hit me from the movie last night are, not to assume I know someone's story, or make judgements based on those assumptions and to really take time to get to know people. We are amazingly different and can learn great things from each other...so will you all take a quick second and do me a favor??? Say Yes, then Ill tell you what it is ;)....
OK...in the comments below, tell us 4 things about your story. Things that give us a little glimpse into who the real "you" is...Ill start (and Lindsay will join in...right?)
*I was born in 1972 (ouch), I have 2 siblings and my parents are still married.
*I grew up in the same valley that I still live in.
*I am a divorcé (a fact it took me several years to admit without cringing)
*and I have been through the trials of infertility and adoption...
There you go...thats me (aren't you just all kinds of intrigued!) ;)
~I know what you are thinking,
"ok, here she goes on a tangent"....
but stick with me~
It is so easy in life to limit ourselves to situations that we are comfortable in, and people we are comfortable with. Its tempting to stay on the surface with people, to not open up to really knowing them and to make judgments based on appearances. Straight up racism might be better now than it was then, we all may be more equal, but are we really open to each other? Are we passed being judgmental? Do we listen to a respect each other? I'm not fully convinced we are passed all of that.
I want to share just two things that are really on my heart with you...was that a gasp, because you think Im going to keep it short and sweet??? Well you are right....
One thing this blogging, facebooking, social networking stuff has done is open me up to a whole bunch of people that I would have never crossed paths with. I've learned that everyone has a story. It's easy to look at someone from the outside and think you know what their life is all about. It's easy to be judgmental because of what they look like, the house they live in, and what you think their story might be...But it is amazing that when you really dive in, you find out what their stories are really all about. Some lives are filled ease, some with struggles, but all with interest. I am left wanting to know more about you all...more about your lives, your thoughts and who you really are. I have met people that I would have walked passed in a grocery store, I have learned from people that I never would have dreamed had something to teach. I have shared similar life stories with some, and been blown away by the roads some have walked. Mostly what I have learned, is that you truly cant judge a book by it's cover (I know cliché, but true..) You are amazing and interesting to me. You have given me a desire to know more of people and focus less on me. And I gotta be honest here for a minute and admit to liking the comfort of my "bubble". The familiarity of close friends and the ease in keeping things to myself. As selfish as it sounds, I don't love to put the time into new relationships when I barely have time for the ones I already have...did I just totally contradict myself??? I guess so, but what I'm saying is that I am learning. And what I am learning is to put myself out there to get to know other's stories....I don't want to assume things about others anymore, I want to really know them...would you try it with me?
So I guess my two deep thoughts that hit me from the movie last night are, not to assume I know someone's story, or make judgements based on those assumptions and to really take time to get to know people. We are amazingly different and can learn great things from each other...so will you all take a quick second and do me a favor??? Say Yes, then Ill tell you what it is ;)....
OK...in the comments below, tell us 4 things about your story. Things that give us a little glimpse into who the real "you" is...Ill start (and Lindsay will join in...right?)
*I was born in 1972 (ouch), I have 2 siblings and my parents are still married.
*I grew up in the same valley that I still live in.
*I am a divorcé (a fact it took me several years to admit without cringing)
*and I have been through the trials of infertility and adoption...
There you go...thats me (aren't you just all kinds of intrigued!) ;)
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN...
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1 comments:
4 quick things about me.
I was a mother at too young an age (18)
I too am a divorcee (remarried)
I was blessed by my first grandchild at the age of 34 (yes my daughter was only 16 but has turned into a wonderful mother)
I was born in California, moved to this valley when I was six and will never call anywhere else home.
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