I am grateful for the differences in others.

I once felt I had no choice but to surround myself with whomever was willing to put up with me. I often felt like people were doing me a favor by allowing me to be around them. Today, I am grateful that perspective has shifted. Today I know I get to choose who I surround myself with and I choose carefully. I am fortunate to get to engage with a plethora of colorful personalities and the people I allow to influence the canvas of my life are not necessarily the same as me. They often have different world views, different beliefs, and different experiences. Despite our differences, however, we have one thing in common: we try our best to respect those differences and, in so doing, we open ourselves up to learning from one another. It is from this seat on the windowsill of life and relationships that I have learned how to soften the bold outlines I had once drawn around ideas of "right:" and "wrong" so I might compose my view of the world with a more humble stroke of my brush. There is a lot of value in examining beliefs with people from the same background. It can often feel more predictable and allows for a deeper dive into the topics we feel require better understanding and sharpened application. But when I allow myself to open my mind to the possibility that I can learn something from all of the people I come in contact with, my tapestry bursts with color as the lines of my understanding expand. When I approach my life with this kind of humility then I am teachable. When I am teachable, I can continue to grow. And If I am growing, there is endless possibility to the array of color and glorious contrast that splashes upon my life.

"Out beyond ideas of right and wrong there is a field. I will meet you there. - Rumi