Be Who You Are

 

Lately, there has been a plethora of discussions and dissension about race and racism.  Sometimes, it is discouraging and depressing.  Everyone yells about rights.  I concede that there are some cases of racism.  This must be fixed when it is evident that it exists. But we often look at every label as bad.  Perhaps we can and should be proud of some labels.

Are you a mom or dad?

great! accept that label and wear it proudly.  It's what you are, a mom or dad.  

Are you red, yellow, black, brown, or white?

Awesome!  Most of the people I know will not look down on you for the color of your skin.

In fact, be proud of your skin color.  It's an important part of who you are.  

If someone refers to you by your skin color, rather than be offended, 

be proud of the color that defines you. 

Be proud of your ethnicity.

When someone refers to you by your race, they may not mean any insult.

It's simply a way of describing who you are.

no offense is meant by those terms.

Are you short or tall?

Beautiful!  I learned long ago not to be too offended by jokes about short people.  

Nor do I let my height define me, but I am short.  

None of these labels define me as a person.  

They are descriptive, nothing more, nothing less.

I will worry and be concerned when people use the words thief, liar, lazy, idiot, bully, or wicked.

Those words define a person's character.  

I can and should be concerned by those labels. 

I would not be proud or find it acceptable to have these labels attached to me.

More importantly, the latter labels are often the product of choices.

They are often one hundred percent something I have often earned

and ...

if I don't like a label, I'll decide if it's a label I can change, 

if I can't change it, I'll wear it boldly, proudly without excuses or shame...