16 Approaches to Equality

Today I cannot deny the nudges thanks to all of the hummingbirds who came to visit and remind me that I promised to write from a nagging heart and tell stories. So, this post is brought to you by the hummingbirds.

As usual, please bear with me and try not to get motion sickness as I skip around because a lot has been flying around in Leenie Brain today. Well, everyday… and in advance, thank you for sharing some of your time with me, especially if you make it to the end. 😉

Whenever we have breaking stories of racism, we see a surge of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr quotes. He is eternally one of the greatest Diplomats, specifically The Protagonist, and I searched for “I Have a Dream” knowing that today I would read it with new eyes because of all I have experienced and learned since 5 December 2018. While examining his rhetoric, I remembered I meant to call Dr. Chapman, my rhetorical theory professor, who inspired I Am a Storyteller.

Dr. Chapman and I shared 20 minutes together by phone, but we’re looking forward to being able to sit together and chat in person. We still have so much more to talk about, but today we affirmed a truth: one simple act of kindness goes further than you can imagine.

Dr. Chapman told me how elated she was to receive my note and how much gratitude she feels because I took the time to let her know she made a lasting, positive difference in my life. She also let me know she shares our story with family and friends. She couldn’t remember the conversation in her office, but what seemed like an ordinary meeting then has become her go-to example of how you never know how deeply someone will receive what you say. The same is true of me, sharing this with you here and now. I didn’t know that my little note to Dr. Chapman would become as far reaching as it has.

I mentioned to Dr. Chapman that one of the things that prompted me to call her today was Dr. King’s speech. His rhetoric is as if he was a master of The Secret. And truth be told, I often have The Secret playing on Netflix for background noise. In general, it has been shaping the way I communicate and think. Positive words. Positive thoughts.

Dr. King did it right and did it well.

To manifest what we want, we must focus on it.

Bravely speak up for our desire.

The mere mention of what we don’t want is the same energy. If we are against something, then we need to identify what it is that we DO want.

So yeah. Plain and simple. We. Fucked. Up. We undid the dream… or stalled it at his vision.

Dr. King shared his vision, his dream with such detail to give the universe no room for error. Have we become too concise? Have we become too lazy? Have we become to cowardly in identifying exactly what we want?

Every time we say “anti-racism”, the universe hears “racism”. Every time we call to end racism, the universe hears “racism”.

The title of this post is intended to cover all the inequalities and inequities we face in America. America wants equality for its citizens in all ways.

And now we’re back to that thing that was bugging me yesterday. The prodding at others to make them feel guilty for not doing things the way we think they should when maybe that’s not how they handle things. The faulty logic of what one’s silence means. That is a bullshit tactic.

I hope it’s rare that I ever straight up say what not to do, but if you are trying to guilt someone into behaving how you want them to or according to your view of how anything should be done or especially about how they should feel, stop that shit now. Toxic. Poisoning each other gets us no closer to peace and equality.

You may have taken the test for Myers Briggs Type Indicator. Identifying one’s personality type can help us understand ourselves and each other. We can learn how to improve communicating with each other (i.e. understanding how someone best receives information so we can deliver it in a way they understand). We can have guidance on careers that suit our type or careers that we may want to avoid because our personality type isn’t a good fit; HOWEVER, your personality type is no excuse to avoid pursuing what you want. It only means you may have to work a little harder. Same is true of compatibility between types. Some types go together well, and others not so much. It’s not to say it won’t work out, but it may take a bit more effort to understand each other and work together to find harmony.

All that in mind, and now keeping it short, with 16 personality types, is it possible to have 16 approaches to improving our society and creating equality? Please think about it before you challenge another person simply because they’re not doing as you do. And in all things, use kindness and compassion while considering other perspectives and approaches, and perhaps it will keep you from casting stones.

When Dr. Chapman and I were wrapping up our conversation, I thanked her for being a testament to the words of Maya Angelou.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

– Maya Angelou

And another thing clicked. Another sign that I needed to talk to Dr. Chapman. Another reminder to write.

Six years have passed since another Protagonist, Maya Angelou, died (28 May 2014). She stopped speaking as a child after experiencing trauma, but when she rediscovered her voice, she revealed her power. Her authentic light became her legacy. Her own story is her gift of hope.

“When we come to it
We, this people, on this wayward, floating body
Created on this earth, of this earth
Have the power to fashion for this earth
A climate where every man and every woman
Can live freely without sanctimonious piety
Without crippling fear

When we come to it
We must confess that we are the possible
We are the miraculous, the true wonder of this world
That is when, and only when
We come to it.”

– Maya Angelou, A Brave and Startling Truth

Luceat lux vestra.