Stereotypes

You know that you are a unique individual with a unique fingerprint, a unique DNA profile, a unique personal history. One of a kind. But the young black man? The drug addict? The terrorist? The politician? The white cop? The greedy businessman?

We embrace these and many more stereotypes to form our views of the world, to make us comfortable, to both box in and box our people. In some ways they make our lives easier, but they also make our lives narrower.

It would be magical to believe that each person we meet could become a full individual to us. But testing our own set of stereotypical beliefs by risking a bit of intimacy at the right time can be an enriching experience.

The wall starts to come down, human connections happen, compassion emerges. Instead of turning your back because of prejudice, fear, pride or culture, you find yourself surprisingly reflected in the mirror of the other.