What would the world look like if we all accepted each other? What would it look like if people were appreciated for what's on the inside rather than the outside? Would the world be a happier place? Absolutely!
As an Inspirational Speaker who was born without arms, I often get to present my story to audiences waiting to hear what they can do to change the world. I tell them that having been born without arms, I get to see a different side of life. Society often reacts poorly to me just because of the way my body appears.
Hannah, my 18 month old daughter, recently learned a new trick on a trip to the northeast. My wife told Hannah to "hold daddy's hand while we walk" because Joni's hands were full and we were in a crowded area. Now, before you think my wife was being insensitive, in our family, we exchange the words "foot" and "hand" all of the time when referring to me as my feet serve as my hands. We've never gotten hung up on word choices.
What is so inspiring and amazing to me is Hannah's acceptance of what is "normal" in our family. She doesn't know any differently, so she treats me with full acceptance and love unlike the world around me that often treats me as handicapped before they get to know me. Hannah's attitude shows what we all could be like if we simply treated others with respect and love without judging others based on looks.
In my presentations, I love to talk about seeing people instead of labels. Society as a whole is a great giver of labels. We have so many labels that we have decided to make up new labels because the old ones seem crass or hurtful. The word "handicapped" has become "person with special needs." While I agree that the new label is better than the old, I fear it is just a band-aid on a bigger problem.
What if, instead of labels, we saw all people as simply, people? If there was no need to classify, we wouldn't have to come up with creative ways of saying hurtful things. Without labels, everyone in our society would be on equal ground.
What would a label-less world look like? There would be no war as we wouldn't be bombing the "enemy" but rather bombing "people." There would be no poverty because the "poor" would be seen as "people." So, let's get started. The next time you catch yourself labeling someone, try getting to know them instead. You'll be amazed at what people have to give.
As an Inspirational Speaker who was born without arms, I often get to present my story to audiences waiting to hear what they can do to change the world. I tell them that having been born without arms, I get to see a different side of life. Society often reacts poorly to me just because of the way my body appears.
Hannah, my 18 month old daughter, recently learned a new trick on a trip to the northeast. My wife told Hannah to "hold daddy's hand while we walk" because Joni's hands were full and we were in a crowded area. Now, before you think my wife was being insensitive, in our family, we exchange the words "foot" and "hand" all of the time when referring to me as my feet serve as my hands. We've never gotten hung up on word choices.
What is so inspiring and amazing to me is Hannah's acceptance of what is "normal" in our family. She doesn't know any differently, so she treats me with full acceptance and love unlike the world around me that often treats me as handicapped before they get to know me. Hannah's attitude shows what we all could be like if we simply treated others with respect and love without judging others based on looks.
In my presentations, I love to talk about seeing people instead of labels. Society as a whole is a great giver of labels. We have so many labels that we have decided to make up new labels because the old ones seem crass or hurtful. The word "handicapped" has become "person with special needs." While I agree that the new label is better than the old, I fear it is just a band-aid on a bigger problem.
What if, instead of labels, we saw all people as simply, people? If there was no need to classify, we wouldn't have to come up with creative ways of saying hurtful things. Without labels, everyone in our society would be on equal ground.
What would a label-less world look like? There would be no war as we wouldn't be bombing the "enemy" but rather bombing "people." There would be no poverty because the "poor" would be seen as "people." So, let's get started. The next time you catch yourself labeling someone, try getting to know them instead. You'll be amazed at what people have to give.
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