EP 669 – Your Life Matters

Our world is changing and sometimes that change is difficult to keep up with. Sometimes we see the need for the change, but we don’t know how to move forward. Sometimes we want the change and we look for ways to push it forward.

I grew up in rural Ontario where my cousins and second cousins and so on were my neighbours and classmates. We looked like each other and we sounded like each other. I had 3 local TV stations, and we watched very little TV except for hockey, which I tuned out.

I don’t remember giving skin colour a second thought. I went to University and I still don’t remember giving it a second thought.

It wasn’t until I lived in Toronto that I remember hearing some of my first racial slurs.

I know that 30 years later, I have said or thought things that were racial generalizations in reactions to activities, sayings, or even music.

So here we are in the midst of turmoil and I am seeing arguments around Black Lives Matter versus All Lives Matter. I absolutely agree with both statements. Black Lives Matter. All Lives Matter. Your Life Matters.

My life matters.

However, I can not remember a time where my skin colour has not put me at a disadvantage, or made me look down upon as something less, or put me at risk or seen as dangerous.

So what can we all do…Listen and show up.

Listen to each other.

Show up and be willing to acknowledge someone’s experiences, no matter how different they may be to yours.

By listening and showing up, by opening up in this way, we can examine where we can push change forward. Where we can make the necessary impact. We all have a role to play in making that happen. It’s needed and long overdue as Every Life Matters.