I wanted to share with you a realization I had recently.
There’s a tendency among us human beings to look at large groups of people — be they cultural, religious, gender, whatever — and point out just how much different “we” are from “them.”
“Oh, my group would never do anything like ‘they’ do…!”
We also make dangerous generalizations when it comes to individuals. We lump them — even though they are one, individual person — into a group we think they are a part of and assume that they are exactly the same as everyone else in that group.
“Oh, they are a [whatever]; ‘those people’ always [whatever]!”
This is completely backwards.
It’s much more productive and helpful to flip those around.
When we look at groups, it’s better to see how we’re more alike than we are different.
When we look at individuals, it’s better to see how everyone is different and appreciate each person’s uniqueness.
When we do it this way, the world instantly becomes a much more welcoming and colorful and interesting place.
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P.S. The globe mosaic pic above is even better in when you can see the whole thing; check it out here.
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