Multitudes

For a story my son was interviewed for, the article ended by acknowledging that the young man was much more than just trans. He was also an AP student and working toward being an Eagle Scout, among other things.

I say the same thing all the time, and not just about my trans son, though I’m often talking about him.

But lately, I’ve been thinking how true that is for everyone. How when we stop to really think about the ways we all carry multitudes, two things start to happen: 1. We have a much better chance of understanding that on some level we are all connected, share something in common, no matter how small, and 2. It’s difficult to wholesale hate someone when you can see a part of yourself in them (again, no matter how small).

Wait, wait. Don’t roll your eyes yet.

Because I’m not saying looking for just any speck of similarity will somehow bring about world peace, or even have much of a chance of changing the current dynamics. Having boundaries you won’t let others cross, a solid, unique moral compass that demands you live your principles, will always mean that there will be people you may not tolerate.

And that’s OK.

But, knowing ourselves in deeper and more nuanced ways, and being conscious and intentional about looking for ways our lives intersect with people we assume we don’t have much in common with, isn’t a bad thing, right?

I started thinking about myself in this way, and a sort of meditation evolved: Mother. Friend. Daughter. Sister. Colleague. Writer. Editor. Creative. Ally. Dog owner. Human. Bluey fan. Sensitive. Tender. Funny (sometimes). Compassionate.

My invitation to you today is to sit for three minutes (or two) and make a short list of all the ways you would describe yourself. What roles do you play in this world? Who depends on you and in what ways? When you think of yourself, what are some of the qualities that jump immediately to mind?

Then, as you engage with the world, see how many people you can see yourself in. What happens when you recognize those similarities?