I resonate with this part of the interview so much: "As we pay closer attention to our communities, we find ourselves caring more deeply. We come to care for each other by name, which can lead to both joy and pain. It can get complicated and messy." I gotta say that some days I wonder why I actively maintain a diverse group of friends, b…
I resonate with this part of the interview so much: "As we pay closer attention to our communities, we find ourselves caring more deeply. We come to care for each other by name, which can lead to both joy and pain. It can get complicated and messy." I gotta say that some days I wonder why I actively maintain a diverse group of friends, both racially and socio-economically. There are many problems I am shielded from by my whiteness, by my financial situation, by being cis gender. There are days I wonder why, since my own life has held quite a bit of pain in recent years, I am also holding the sadness and fear and brokenness of my society by, for instance, asking my Asian-American friends about racially motivated violence, listening to my close friend and neighbor tell me about her fears for her daughter's survival since she can't pay for much needed mental health treatment, by acknowledging that exposure to environmental hazards, poverty and poor health care in his home country likely shortened by father-in-law's life. I must say that the benefits of diverse communities are many and seeing life as it is for people different than myself has increased my empathy. But, it means that my life feels more complicated. I have more uncomfortable self-realizations and conversations with others than I might otherwise. I must admit that some days it sure feels like too much. Other days it feels like just the right thing to be doing.
I resonate with this part of the interview so much: "As we pay closer attention to our communities, we find ourselves caring more deeply. We come to care for each other by name, which can lead to both joy and pain. It can get complicated and messy." I gotta say that some days I wonder why I actively maintain a diverse group of friends, both racially and socio-economically. There are many problems I am shielded from by my whiteness, by my financial situation, by being cis gender. There are days I wonder why, since my own life has held quite a bit of pain in recent years, I am also holding the sadness and fear and brokenness of my society by, for instance, asking my Asian-American friends about racially motivated violence, listening to my close friend and neighbor tell me about her fears for her daughter's survival since she can't pay for much needed mental health treatment, by acknowledging that exposure to environmental hazards, poverty and poor health care in his home country likely shortened by father-in-law's life. I must say that the benefits of diverse communities are many and seeing life as it is for people different than myself has increased my empathy. But, it means that my life feels more complicated. I have more uncomfortable self-realizations and conversations with others than I might otherwise. I must admit that some days it sure feels like too much. Other days it feels like just the right thing to be doing.