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caring, community, compassion, courage, courteous, Diana Schwenk, diversity, equality, generosity, good character, goodness, happy, helpful, hope, integrity, kindness, love, meaningful, passion, peace, question, spiritual, tolerance, world issues
I know I’m not the first person to ponder what if and I probably won’t be the last.
Even as a child, I would question the way we humans treated each other while at the same time I know full well that, at times, I’ve treated people differently based solely on their appearance or status.
Why do I do that?
I clearly remember wishing that humans would intentionally start marrying people outside of their race and having children. My child-mind wondered how many generations it would take before we all looked alike, spoke the same language and adopted similar values and beliefs.
I still find myself yearning, praying and wishing because isn’t every person worthy?
Isn’t every life sacred?
Realistically, I know that there’s probably no chance we will all become one people, with one language and value system but…
~
What if it didn’t matter if you were black, white, red or yellow?
What if it didn’t matter if you were politically left, right, or in the middle?
What if it didn’t matter if you were educated, uneducated, employed or unemployed?
What if it didn’t matter if you lived in a mansion, an apartment, a hut or on the streets?
What if it didn’t matter if you were rich, poor, or somewhere in between?
What if it didn’t matter if you were Christian, Jewish, Muslim or something else?
What if it didn’t matter if you were straight, gay, bisexual or trapped in the wrong gender?
What if it didn’t matter if you were fat, skinny, short, or tall?
What if it didn’t matter if you were physically ill, mentally ill, or healthy?
What if it didn’t matter if you were young, middle-aged or ancient?
What if it didn’t matter if you were happy, sad, alone or overwhelmed in a crowd?
What if your status wasn’t determined by birth, religion, gender, or economics?
What if it didn’t matter if your hair was blond, brown, red, black or purple?
If your eyes were blue, green, brown or black?
If you spoke Hebrew, Arabic, English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Polish, German, Russian, or Pig Latin?
If you were Asian, African, European, North American, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern?
If you had a high or low IQ, EQ or cholesterol level?
What if you understood that at your core…
that in essence we are all spiritual beings
who just happen to have a variety of different outer shells and experiences?
What if all that mattered was that you had good character and integrity…
that you strove to find beauty and goodness and meaning in others and in all that you do?
that you were:
Kind to others
Thoughtful
Generous to a fault
Courageous
Tolerant
Loving
Encouraging
Helpful
Hospitable
Compassionate
Truthful
Courteous
Passionate
Hopeful
I want to make a conscious effort to live these values in my life. I know I won’t always be successful, there will be days when I fall short but if I can become aware of the times I don’t quite measure up, I can correct myself and begin again.
What do you think? What are some of the things you could do differently?
What if?
Related articles
Every now and then I look at the links WordPress recommends. I was quite moved by the link below. If you have a moment, give it a read. It really is quite powerful.
- What Will Matter – Michael Josephson (tersiaburger.com)
Wyrd Smythe said:
It is indeed a wonderful wish list. How do we humble humans get there, is my question! Some of us try to live by those values, but human nature seems to make it tough to do sometimes, plus a lot of people don’t seem to even want to try.
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dianasschwenk said:
One heart at a time Smitty!
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Wyrd Smythe said:
A lovely answer, Lady Di!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you my friend.
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russtowne said:
Another wonderful post from a great and loving spirit. Thank you, Diana!
Russ
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dianasschwenk said:
You’re welcome. Thank you for stopping by. ❤
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artsifrtsy said:
Great post. It’s a great list to aspire to – a tough list to master for sure.
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dianasschwenk said:
No kidding eh?
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thoughtsfromanamericanwoman said:
I agree Diane, great post. What a perfect world we would be living it! 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
*sigh* so true!
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stuffitellmysister said:
Wonderful thoughts and post! ♥
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks very much. The feeling is mutual, I always enjoy reading your posts. xo
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stuffitellmysister said:
🙂 you are too sweet!
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dianasschwenk said:
haha I try! 🙂
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elizabeth2560 said:
Yes, yes, yes, I KNEW these were all on your list. You live them every day and it comes out in your posts and your replies – with your compassionate, kind nature; and your encouraging thoughtful comments. Thanks for a fantastic post 🙂
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dianasschwenk said:
Thank you for your encouragement Elizabeth! You made my day!
xo
Diana
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mindfuldiary said:
Powerful post! Powerful list!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks my dear!
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billgncs said:
assimilation is the sauce.
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dianasschwenk said:
nah acceptance, curiosity, understanding is the sauce!
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billgncs said:
assimilation — ghettos of any kind are a bad thing. ( smile )
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dianasschwenk said:
(smile) back at ya!
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cyclingrandma said:
All makes sense, but the loss of cultures is also worrying.
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dianasschwenk said:
I like diversity too, but why do you say it’s worrying?
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dougsan said:
I think your post is really nice and I’d love to believe it even as a pipe dream. I’m not sure though, if people are really CAPABLE of harmony or of peace? Is it just me? I feel like even if through generations of breeding all people ended up te same they’d still find something to latch onto – some way to generate conflict? I wrote something on this a while ago – half joking – about why people suck. But from neurology to history to physics to poetry there’s just something that makes me feel real peace is just beyond us.
Anyway, I’d much rather you were right. 🙂 nice post
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks for stopping by and for leaving such a thoughtful comment. I wonder if as every person who makes a conscious decision to look beyond the outer shells others become inspired and do the same. Maybe not everyone, but more than there were before! what do you think?
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Louise G. said:
I think you’ve created a powerful list of values we can all build our lives upon. I think if we were to simply focus on being those things more, the other things would fall away because there’s be no focus on them — what I put my attention on grows stronger in my life.
I’m joining you in making a conscious effort to lives these values in my life.
Great post Diana!
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dianasschwenk said:
Thanks Louise! Yes my dad used to say, while teaching me to drive, look where you want to go and you’ll end up there. T’is true in more than driving. 🙂
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