It's Not Our Differences that Divide Us
Celebrate Your Scars
"It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." – Audre Lorde
I spent the first 29 years of my life trying to be like everyone else.
After getting out of the hospital, my goal was to fit into the crowd, to disappear, to be seen as normal, to not stand out in any way. Far from longing to be extraordinary, my great desire was to be ordinary.
When my parents first wrote "my story" in their book Overwhelming Odds, I realized for the very first time the sacred, the freeing, the necessity of really living into who we are, to connect with others and to lead the life we are meant to lead.
That moment forever changed the trajectory of my life. It is why I am a speaker, an author, and a podcaster. It is why I continue striving to become the best husband, father and friend I can be.
It's why I know that in embracing my scars- physically and emotionally- I'm free to not only better love myself, but others. [Tweet this] | [Share on Facebook]
I have never been reminded of this truth more than during a recent conversation I had with my new friend, Amy Roloff.
Amy Roloff Reminds Us to Love Our Differences
For more than a decade, Amy has welcomed millions of viewers to her 100-acre farm on TLC's hit reality television show Little People, Big World.
When originally offered the opportunity, Amy didn't want it.
She didn't want to dig up childhood hurts she'd laid to rest. Or be seen as different, less-than, unworthy. She didn't want to expose herself to public criticism.
And then she did something transformative
She decided to do the show anyway. Amy realized that in owning her experience with dwarfism - being a little person - and sharing how she learned to love herself, she might allow others to better understand and relate to those who we view as "different" and just maybe learn to better love themselves, too.
My friends, my scars beautifully make me who I am. Dwarfism perfectly makes Amy who she is. And it is your imperfections that, far from making you less-than, transform you perfectly into who you are….and can still become.
Because in the end, it is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and fully celebrate those differences.
And perhaps the most important place to begin this important journey is with the reflection in the mirror.
Today is your day! Live Inspired.
John O'Leary
To book John O'Leary for your next event, visit his profile: https://premierespeakers.com/john_oleary
John’s most recent book title is On Fire: The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life. To order copies in bulk for your event, please visit BulkBooks.com.
Join Amy Roloff and me in this moving conversation. Listen to Live Inspired Podcast Ep. 166 here.
It’s Not Our Differences that Divide Us appeared first on John O'Leary.