As I wandered through a vibrant business luncheon last week, I found myself among a sea of 1,200 individuals, each with their own story, their own uniqueness. It dawned on me – none resembled the polished perfection of movie stars or the airbrushed figures on billboards. Yet, their realness was far more captivating.
These everyday heroes weren’t the typical faces of commercials or the elite alumni of famous colleges. Their beauty lay in their authenticity, in their diverse experiences and wisdom. Some navigated life with canes or wheelchairs, others sprinted past with athletic prowess, and each had knowledge of things I've never pondered.
Imagine, for a moment, if these 1,200 were from across the globe. The diversity would be staggering. Most haven’t flown in an airplane, many speak only a hint of English, and some live on just a few dollars a day. A few are in unfathomable situations of bondage, while the majority are deeply concerned about our world’s future.
This realization hit me hard: the roles and divisions created by mass consumer marketing don’t truly reflect our world. We’ve been sold an image of status and class that hardly represents the richness of our global humanity.
So here’s my reflection: We are all a bit weird, and that’s perfectly okay. Our uniqueness is not a barrier but a bridge to understanding and building better communities. Recognizing our individual peculiarities allows us to find common ground in our shared humanity.
Let’s celebrate our diversity, understanding that it is the very essence of our strength. Together, in our distinctiveness, we can strive for better lives and stronger communities. Embrace your weirdness – it's your contribution to our beautifully diverse world.
#EmbraceDiversity #CommunityBuilding #UniqueTogether
Thank you for letting us feature you, Leah Dergachev! We are so grateful to be on this journey with you 💞