One with bliss and wonder, struggles and restrictions, hope and oppression.

With a blissful view of the world behind my privileged blue eyes and light skin, I shall share my humble perspective of the world I exist in. First, I need to admit this is not the perspective I would have always shared. No, in fact I would insist the world I have been living has been difficult, full of challenge and perhaps some discrimination (female and low-income).

However more recently I have stepped out of my limited perspective to see things from an entirely new point of view. Even with the struggles I may have faced throughout my life, I have always been welcomed, typically with a smile and open arms, in nearly all places of business, social and other venues. Never have I experienced someone refusing me service or “pretending” they do not see me to simply avoid helping me. Never have I been pulled over due to the color of my skin or assumed to be up to no good before having to prove otherwise in a delicate way. Never would I need to throw my hands in the air, in the moment I see officers coming my way, out of fear they might see me as an immediate threat.

In fact, I actually think officers smile, waive, ask if I need anything or if I am okay most often in my 39 years of life. I have never felt fearful of an officer, rather protected. I have never had to consider how to raise my children to understand there are people who still believe your color of skin somehow makes you “different.” I could never dream of needing to my kids people are going to treat you differently and when this happens, you need to be prepared, have understanding and be the bigger person in ALL scenarios. No, I have never feared for my children staying out later and crossing paths with law-enforcement.

Instead, I have found peace in knowing there are police who live in our neighborhoods, seeing a presence and knowing we would be safe from perpetrators. While this view is also something I seem to struggle with currently. Fear-based approaches only create more fear and tensions, therefore I am not sure how “safe” anyone truly is, as long as we run our country from a “fear-based” societal structure.

So, today I see the world we live in to be one that has much to learn. May our hearts stretch far and wide, begin to see other points of view more frequently, educate ourselves in what is truly happening by asking, striking up conversations and looking deeper into our history. Yes, I believe this is our responsibility as community members to simply start the dialogue. Flip your life view/perspective a bit and see if there are things you have not previously considered and trust that simply opening your heart means allowing a fellow human to become, just that, a fellow human.