Laundry...

What's one of the first things parents tell their kids concerning laundry? "Don't mix the reds and whites!"

I remember when household chores were the bane of my existence. As much as I despised them however, I was one of the few who got a weekly allowance growing up... so I have absolutely no reason to complain.

Now at 21 I have a fair share of responsibilities, and looking back I can say that the training then was critical in forming my ideals today.

What I wish to share with you this afternoon is:

The Art of Categorizing.

Why are we as humans so susceptible of putting people into boxes? (or baskets, to go with the analogy.) It seems that wherever I look others must label the people around them in order to have a sense of security. Is this healthy? What would it look like to NOT sort people in this manner?

I saw a viral Facebook video a year ago where people from different cultures and backgrounds stood back against a wall. Circles were then drawn before them labeling specific personalities and occupations. One by one these categories were then called out permitting the individuals who pertain to said categories to step forward inside the circles. It was really eye-opening to see how some people you'd expect to be one way (by physical appearance) pick jobs completely unexpected of them... but that's who they are!

What I'm trying to say is this. Even if we label people (which I strongly discourage) we are only creating a false sense of safety. Instead, mix your reds and whites. You'll get a whole new perspective on people, making it easier to accept others. Plus who knows? A pink undershirt might be the next coolest thing for your wardrobe!

Take time to meet new people too. If you only hang out with the same old friends you'll find yourself simple-minded, no one wants to be like that. Stretch your area of influence while you're at it: go downtown, check out the mall, meet someone new today. Skin color, gender, it's all irrelevant. That human over there is just as human as you are :)