Have you noticed the types of movies, TV shows, and books we get drawn to? Of course we want a great experience and story to keep us interested in what happens next. But there is something more that can draw us in. The story of the different.
This weekend I was able to see the musical Wicked for the first time. It’s an interesting take on the back story of the good witch and the wicked witch of the west. Clearly in the land of Oz many things were different. So why would having different color skin be so different from munchkins or even talking animals?
“It’s looking at things in a different way” – from Wicked
I haven’t read the book this musical is based on, but the story is very well laid out. But I’ll save the rest for you to experience if you haven’t read the book or seen the musical. It is well worth a read or better yet a ticket.
Some of what we see in these stories is ourselves. When our self-esteem is low or if we are just blue, a story like Wicked can lift our spirits. We see the possibilities come through others. For many of the people I have met over the years, some see the possibility of life through hearing or seeing me talk about my challenges. For me, stories like these, help solidify why I need to write, speak or just be myself.
Not everyone has the opportunity to mix company through personal experiences, school, or business. You may be raised in a certain community or neighborhood. It might be predominately European American, African American, Polish, able bodied, or any other demographic you can think of. Being raised in such a small area can lead to culture shock when you leave that area. Heck in the city of Milwaukee there were many different areas. Some would be afraid of going into other areas. Why?
Anthropologists discovered that, when faced by interaction that we do not understand, people tend to interpret the others involved as “abnormal”, “weird” or “wrong” — Conflict Resolution in Intercultural Settings: Problems and Prospects – Kevin Avruch and Peter Black
Certainly not based on fact. “They’re so different” is such a generalized statement that holds no water. First impressions based solely on looks or pre-defined judgments of a given individual or group of people is based only on assumptions. When you finally get the courage to sit down with someone who is different, the differences are only a small part of who they are.
It’s taking that leap of faith to learn from others. Don’t let fear of the unknown keep you from seeing and experiencing the many differences around you. Fear is just someone else’s tool to keep you from the truth. The best friends and business relationships you’ll find are from learning about others and finding out how their differences can actually help you.
A leader does not lead because they know all. A leader is someone who brings a group of talented people together who have different strengths, but together they are a powerhouse! You just need to look at things in a different way.
