She asks: "In which field are you considered an expert?"
I reply: "I am an expert in diversity".
She looks at me, a little bit skeptical. Apparently, she is not impressed: "Do you mean that you are living it or perceiving it?".
Now it's my turn to be not impressed. And also a little bit amused: "Both. I embody diversity. And I understand and perceive diversity. You can't really perceive it, without living it yourself, at least to some degree. Otherwise, you are just using diversity as a tool for putting other people into some boxes. Your own boxes".
[How about a colorful box of... diversity, anyone?
Oh, wait... Too bad there's no such a thing]
Diversity is not about a colorful box.
It is not about what you read in the books.
And it is also not about the perfect strategy. If you would have it and it would be perfect anytime, it would be more a "one-size-fits-all" strategy... So not diverse at all.
And it is also not about the perfect strategy. If you would have it and it would be perfect anytime, it would be more a "one-size-fits-all" strategy... So not diverse at all.
What do you think about, when you hear the word "diversity"?
Just start with that, and ask yourself whether another person you know and/or you would like to know better, with another background, would be able to relate to your definition or not.
If not, chances are... You are dealing with someone that can bring diversity into your life. It's up to you to decide if you are willing to take the risk to discover something new and probably very different from what you are used to calling "normality".
This one is for Silka.
Tags: Diversity, Self-awareness, How to explain diversity, Perspective switch, Discovering new points of view
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