Traumatic Experiences Community Daily Check-in Tuesday 28th August 2018

Hello lovely trauma family

As I sit here pondering what to write, I feel a deep sadness for us, and find I don't have any words. So I'm going to share some words from Dr Desmond Tutu, who is a SouthAfrican cleric and well known for his work as an anti- apartheid and human rights activist. I invite you to reflect on them, and take what is relevant for you, or if its too heavy see what Piglet has to say later.

These are excerpts from a speech that Desmond Tutu gave to the United Commission on Human Rights in Geneva in 2001..."We live in a universe marked by diversity as the law of its being and our being. We should celebrate our diversity: we should exult our differences as making not for separation, alienation and hostility, but for their glorious opposites. The law of our being is to live in solidarity, friendship, helpfulness, unselfishness,interdependence and complementarity as sisters and brothers in one family - the human family, God's family. Anything else, as we've experienced is disaster.

We need so much to work for co-existence, for tolerance and to say : 'I disagree with you, but I will defend to the death, your right to your opinion.' It is only when we respect even our adversaries and see them not as ogres, dehumanised, demonised, but as fellow human beings deserving respect for their personhood and dignity that we will conduct a discourse that just might prevent conflict. There is room for everyone; there is room for every culture,race, language and point of view."

He further suggests that in times of transition and turmoil we tend to seek refuge in fundamentalisms of all kinds. To seek those who are similar to ourselves, and feel uncomfortable with those who are unlike us, and we are less tolerant of differences of opinion. Yet if we can embrace and celebrate our glorious diversity we will be the richer for it.

And as Piglet, Winnie the Pooh's little friend says : "The things that make me different are the things that make ME."

How is your day going? What is something different about you that makes you ME, (as Piglet said) ? Or pop in to say hi! You're welcome here. This is your space and a safe place. And thanks to my dear check in partner, Mas, for being here with me.. Love from rozie. x