The force to be something well defined and easily categorized is real.

Christian – conservative

Black – angry

Caribbean – promiscuous

Woman – too sensitive

27 – dating or married

I don’t fight these labels as much as I fight the need to address them.

Be.

That’s really all I’m trying to do.

And not just me I think a lot of other people are trying the same.

If you know me well, the quickest way to get me mad is to throw a label at me.

It seems cumbersome, archaic and foolish.

It’s lazy and uninsightful.

And what’s sad is people find it so necessary to still do it.

I do it.

But what if we stepped back for a moment and just were as someone else is being? I think the interaction could lead to something.

Something that looks a lot like relating and learning and growing.

Something that looks like sharing humanity rather than gathering crumbs of evidence to piece together our preconceived notions.

And let’s question ourselves when we meet new people or interact with old friends.

Because what’s sad is we may be creating a narrative for someone’s life that doesn’t exist.

And you may never learn that person but only interact with the version of them you’ve pre-devised.

Let’s live and give others the dignity and respect to do the same.

Hope this helps!

Ambini