I find many times our differences can get in the way of our respect for one another. Instead of appreciating variances, we criticize that which we may not understand. Sometimes we aren’t taught how to celebrate our diversity. When we interact with those of different backgrounds, cultures, and belief systems, we may compare theirs with our own. When we condemn another’s way of life, we are revealing our misunderstandings, judgments, and fears.
We can learn to embrace, honor, or simply be open to dissimilarities of our own. The desire and freedom to express who we are seems to apply to a wide range of situations in life. Many times people are not trying to convince you or convert you to their way of living; they just want the privilege of making their choices without feeling defensive.
I have a bowl with a Maya Angelou quote that I think of often. “Life is a glorious banquet, a limitless and delicious buffet.” I like to think of life like a glorious buffet. How wonderful it is to have a choice in Mexican food, Italian food, Indian food, sushi, and all the foods shared from around the world. How nice it is to have a variety to pick from, each one having its own unique tastes to offer. I love to eat pizza, but if I eat it every single day, I certainly tire of it quick and suddenly it is not longer an enjoyment. We could easily compare life to a variety of differences to choose from.
Let’s say you don’t like sushi for whatever reason, but that your friend absolutely loves it. Isn’t it nice that when you have a buffet, you can choose not to eat the sushi, and your friend can choose to enjoy it? I know this seems like such a simple analogy, but what if we could look at the variety in choices in life similar to the food buffet?
You don’t have to abandon your choices in life to respect another’s. Your values are yours to live and believe by. We can learn much by seeing or listening to another perspective. You can disagree to “like the sushi” and allow the privilege to select what is better for each of you. We can do this more often in life rather than spending a lot of energy on debating another’s choices.
We can be a more powerful society and if we could focus on the things that resonate with us all the while allowing others to do the same. What works for them may be very different than what works for you. Perhaps their culture dresses, worships, or cooks differently than you. Perhaps you both make phenomenal soup, but you make it very differently. Perhaps we can embrace and celebrate our varieties in life. What a glorious, beautiful, diverse life this could be.