You Know My Name but Not My Story!
A few months ago I was in a meeting where a young woman made a comment that impacted me enough to write it down. I allowed the thought to incubate and today’s post is the result. She said, “You know my name but not my story!”
I started thinking how often we think we know someone and may even judge them to be a certain way without taking the time to get to know the person. These judgments can be a result of appearance that causes pre-conceived feelings or we often judge someone based on something we heard about them or we may feel that they are not at the same intellectual, social, or financial level as us or a myriad of other reasons may be used to judge someone.
Why is it that we are so quick to judge in a negative way because someone may be different? Why do we find someone else’s difference so problematic for us? Why do we suppose that our way of living or being is so much better than theirs? Why is it that we have a difficult time accepting those who may be different?
As parents who have children with chronic health problems or other struggles we have experienced the sadness of misinformed judgments. Hopefully we have also experienced the joys of kindness, understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and love shown to our child. We have learned to cry and laugh and rejoice with the treatment our child receives depending on the events of the day or the situation in which they are placed.
Coping, especially with the insensitivities of others, can be difficult as we watch our child cry or feel unaccepted. As hard as it is we must do our best to build our children up, give them confidence, help them believe in themselves, encourage and love them.
I admit that this is a Herculean challenge and I don’t have all the answers, but I believe the woman in the meeting referenced above has an idea that is worth trying. She said, “You know my name but not my story!” Perhaps we can increase understanding and compassion as we help our children tell their story.
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