You have about 100 billion neurons in your brain.\u00a0 There are enough variations in just your brain chemistry alone to guarantee that there has never been another individual like you, ever.\u00a0 And there will never be someone identical you, either.\u00a0 You are completely unique, shaped by the journey that has delivered you to where you are now.<\/p>\n
In all of existence, there is only one you.<\/p>\n
I think we forget this fact.\u00a0 It\u2019s easy to forget.\u00a0 And, if I\u2019m being a little cynical, I think we\u2019re encouraged to forget.<\/p>\n
There are constant dividers being thrown at us.\u00a0 We\u2019re all asked to give up our individuality, our humanity, and fold ourselves into boxes so that we can be labeled. \u00a0Male.\u00a0 Female.\u00a0 Straight.\u00a0 Gay.\u00a0 Rich.\u00a0 Poor.\u00a0 Republican.\u00a0 Democrat.\u00a0 Black.\u00a0 White.\u00a0 Hispanic.\u00a0 Old.\u00a0 Young.\u00a0 Conservative.\u00a0 Liberal.\u00a0 Christian. \u00a0Atheist.\u00a0 Buddhist.\u00a0 Muslim.<\/p>\n
This is the problem.\u00a0 This is why we can\u2019t have nice things.\u00a0 This is why we\u2019re so separated, and unable to appreciate each other.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not talking about unfairly applying stereotypes.\u00a0 That is one of the problems, certainly, but it\u2019s not the worst one.\u00a0 The worst problem is that if we are separated like this, we cannot connect and communicate in a real way.\u00a0 We just stand on opposite sides of the divide, shouting at each other.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve been away from my blog for weeks.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been reading the news, watching the problem get worse and worse.\u00a0 It is depressing, and I have been depressed.\u00a0 I haven\u2019t been able to write.<\/p>\n
We need to do better.\u00a0 We need to find a way to communicate.\u00a0 We need to find common ground, and build on it.<\/p>\n
I am unhappy with most of Trump\u2019s cabinet picks, but I\u2019m willing to discuss their merits and have my opinion changed.\u00a0 I\u2019m worried about Sessions as Attorney General because of his past, but I\u2019m willing to give him a chance.\u00a0 I would feel even better about him if someone were to give me examples of some of the good things he\u2019s done.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m worried about DeVos as Secretary of Education, but that\u2019s mostly because the only things I know about her is that she doesn\u2019t seem to be qualified, has never participated in public school, and some of her stances on school vouchers and for-profit schools might be a problem for kids in poor or struggling households.\u00a0 I\u2019m willing to have my mind changed, though.\u00a0 If anyone knows anything about her that will make me feel better about the kind of job she\u2019ll do in that position, I would really like to hear it.<\/p>\n
I long to have a discussion with someone that is both informed and in favor of Trump\u2019s choices.\u00a0 I want to see the world from their perspective.\u00a0 I want my views challenged.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m surrounded by people that, for the most part, share my opinions about matters political.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t give me much comfort.\u00a0 There are people out there that seem to approve of where Trump is trying to lead our country, and I have no way of identifying with those people.\u00a0 I want to.\u00a0 I want to understand.\u00a0 Maybe they see something that I don\u2019t see.<\/p>\n