This I Believe

Last Christmas my mom sent out a book, among others, called "This I Believe." It is a collection of the personal beliefs, or personal credo, of many American men and woman, of all ages and types, put together by NPR (as it is based off of a radio program). The book combines essays from the first series in the 1950s, which was mostly comprised of celebrities, and the more recent series which has more no-names.

A great book, Monica and I read them all while she was here (her idea) and decided it would be wortwhile to try writing ones ourselves. So, we got our whole community here in Chuuk to write them, and then one Monday night shared them all. Caitlin, earlier today, said she sent hers to a friend and I realized it would be a great thing to put on this here blog. So, I went to my office, found what I wrote, and here it is:

The Equality of Experience

I believe in equality. Not a political, social, and/or economic equality, but a deep, thorough and utter equality of our human experiences. I believe that no one’s experience can set that person above or below anybody else in the world. I believe it can set them apart, yes, for I believe in diversity – I believe in infinite diversity. I do not believe in a hierarchy in the value of given human experiences, given human lives.

My two best friends that I have had the longest in life thus far are Dan and Alex. I have known Dan since before I can remember, and Alex since 7th grade. Both are more intelligent than I, and yet for different reasons were less “academically” inclined in elementary and then especially high school. They learned, and understood, but weren’t as bothered with all the “shoulds” of being a “high school student.” For my part, I did well enough “academically” and was accepted into a good school that my parents could afford. Dan went to a family school on the East coast and Alex went to none, preferring to explore and learn about life through his own means.

Because of my family and my college I have been able to spend time in many countries on many continents. I’m now teaching on a Pacific island with palm trees, coconuts and the ocean literally all around. I could write for pages about seemingly exotic sights and experiences, even though they are simply normal here. And yet, I know that when I return home the same beautiful thing will happen that happens every time we three have a reunion.

Dan and Alex have traveled less than I, and have had fewer “amazing experiences,” by our culture's ignorant and faulty idea and definition. Nonetheless, when we see each other, I will feel wonderfully humble. When I am with them, I know that they have as much to say, and will always have as much to say about being human as I will. For they, like myself, live it everyday.

It is this equality that I believe in. That the “human experience” is inherently made up of the equal sum of our individual lives, our individual realities, our individual experiences. That we each have as much sharing and listening to do as the next person. This I believe.