Diversity is the key ~

My first 12 years were spent growing up in southern Indiana. Now, one might imagine reading that fact what would the opportunities be for a kid in Southern Indiana to experience diversity? Probably very limited; especially Southern Indiana in the late 60s!

It was just the opposite. My folks were keen on making sure their children were given every opportunity to experience diversity. To fully understand that the variety in life and differences from each other is what makes up the quilt-work of humanity and truly is the spice rack for a well-seasoned life.

You see, my dad was an engineer for Cummings, Inc., who worked in their corporate office in Columbus, Indiana. This is a massive, multi-international company that works with a wide variety of people from all walks of life from around the globe. I distinctly remember as a kid getting together with other families at Dad's company events, or family gatherings and meeting first hand really interesting folks from exotic places like Europe, Australia, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Even the people from across the United States offered up a cornucopia of diversity. I learned very early on that the mix of unique people on the planet makes life much more exciting and interesting, and I am very grateful for this early understanding and appreciation.

The diversity in my life comes from my family heritage as well. My grandparents on my dad’s side were first generation immigrants from France. My mom’s side of the family immigrated to America 100+ years earlier from England and Ireland. Add to this the fact that on my mom’s side of the family her paternal grandfather was a Native American (Cherokee). Mom’s side of the family was also from the Cumberland Gap area and was one of the first 7 families to settle that region of the country. The Cumberland Gap is a narrow pass through the long ridge of the Cumberland Mountains, within the Appalachian Mountains, near the junction of the U.S. states of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. The very first crossroads of America: where the settlers pushed west.

It is amazing to think of the diversity of life even from one family. We all have our heritage, background, and family tree, with its many branches and lives, intertwined. Diversity is the key and makes us stronger. With all that is going on across America and the planet right now, it is really important for each of us to remember this fact, and stay focused on the one thing that will certainly outlive any of us, or any moment across the eons of time. The diversity of life is always at work, always present and enriches us all.

Those who isolate themselves from this fact on any level truly risk losing the one key element of life which makes it more exciting and all things possible.

:)