Diversity of Thought-and Action

There is a quote that I have always been fascinated with, “Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.” It can mean so many things, and be applied to so much in our daily life. Yes, it could be taken literally and mean direct, physical enemies. But it can also apply to you personally, within your thoughts and actions. In a way, it can be a tool to allow us to better understand ourselves and analyze the who, what, where, when, how, and why, that we think we are. It can be used to note the governing of our actions.

People seemingly want to gravitate to those thoughtful places where they can feel a sense of belonging and safety. That is quite understandable; a constant state of conflict is never a good thing. Remember the old cliche, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy?” The same can be said in this particular situation. And yet, isn’t the converse just as equally poignant? Should we also not embrace that which is different; to become diversified in our thoughts and actions?

It would go a long way in helping us to better understand ourselves and our place in the world where we reside. We do that to an extent just by being a part of TGH. There is a degree of that in the Groups that we have here. They certainly are not all, nor are they only transgender-related. Would some scoff that computers, finances, hobbies, motorsports, military, or gaming are not primarily non-transgender activities? I suspect some would.

But, in doing that, have we not given up our diversity of thought? Have we not succumbed to what others desire by putting us in a one-dimensional box? I would say we would. But I, for one, am not like that. I am multi-dimensional and multi-faceted in my life and my thinking. I thoroughly enjoy any amount of thoughtful and respectful discourse, to help broaden my diversity of thought and action. And at the end of the day if we agree to disagree then that is perfectly fine. Even in doing that, we both walk away knowing more and hopefully, we have become better people for our simple interaction.

I will always be on the lookout to learn something I hadn’t known. Listening to someone who I might be initially at odds with allows me to become a person better today than I was yesterday. Because, by the end of the day, I will have won today’s battles, and I have stayed out of the box that so many in society wish to put us in and to keep us in. In doing that, for all the world to see, have I not also helped at least one other person improve their own “diversity of thought and action?”

By the way, that quote is actually from Michael Corleone in The Godfather Part II. I guess I was like most and misattributed it to Sun Tzu. Oh well, live and learn is always the order of the day.

Hugs

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Michelle Lawson

Well as for the physical 'me'; I had an orchiectomey in October of 2019 and my BA in Oct of 2021. Along with that, will be a change to all of my identification; name changes and gender markers. As for the rest of the 'what makes Michelle tick', come visit the Chat Rooms, and the Forums. As a Manager on TGH, I help to make sure your experiences here are safe, happy, supportive, and educational. You are here to grow and thrive, and we are here to nurture that growth. I look forward each day to helping to keep TGH the de facto standard for support in the transgender community. I look forward to chatting with you all, and reading through what you all post. And if you come across a transgender friendly or supportive place, drop me a line so we can figure out how to add it to our Local Places.

Latest posts by Michelle Lawson (see all)

• The Eternal Sea…. - June 7, 2024
• Diversity of Thought-and Action - May 24, 2024
• Does 9 times 1 equal 1? - April 1, 2024