#260 Embracing diversity - law of magnetism
Jun 18, 2022
Every time I visit the beautiful community of Digby, Nova Scotia, I come away with my cup filled. I love the connections I have built here over a decade of visiting. I enjoy the way that I am supported in my work. Looking out into a crowded room and recognizing the faces of the diverse group who have been supporting my work for a decade or more lights me up. Opening our hearts and minds to new people feels great.
There is magic in this place and that first time I came to visit in 2012, I felt it. I can't quite name it but I think I'm getting closer to recognizing it. It's community.
Over the past forty years, I have lived in many places in Canada and in some of those places, I have been embraced and welcomed into community. In other places, I have done all of the things but still didn't warrant an invite to a dinner party. I prefer the former. The latter being very painful.
Call me needy but I like to be accepted and invited to share in community. Some places are rather clique like and those places aren't conducive to newcomers. It gets exhausting to show up in a place and leave all of your history behind in order to fit in.
Maybe my own experiences have made me more aware of the nuances of community and it definitely explains why I am quick to open doors to newcomers.
I've learned a thing or two about diversifying a community.
When everyone is like you, you're really limiting yourself. I once knew a group that were all in agreement about everything, no one disagreed with the strong person in the group and it was the most unhealthy codependent group I had ever encountered. Toxic really. There was no room for growth or for different opinions. In order to fit in, you needed to be a yes-person.
When everyone agrees with you, it's time to diversify. It keeps our mind sharp when we have people at the table with different ideas. So much more so when we can come together out of respect for one another in spite of different opinions.
The law of magnetism is an interesting concept as far as relationships go. Diversity of ideas in a room is a good thing. Who have you invited in lately? Who among you is struggling and could use a warm embrace?
There's nothing finer than a beautiful place with a big heart. .
