A good thing about PT

In honesty, I have contributed to some of the negative threads and dicsussions over the months I have been on PT ... and many of the positive .. and I've had some vehement disussions with other anonymous members about politics and religion ... But i just had a revelation ...

I was just reading the profile of one of my teammate's - it's been updated since I last read it ... and I got a hint that she would actually be a person who I would argue with over politics and religion - infact, we might have done so on this board! If we met each other in person, we would probably not make any connection ... But through PT we have been able to give each other valuable support in our journey to fitness and good health. I think that's pretty cool.

Fri. May 4, 10:30am

thats very cool. it just means your adult enough to realize not everyone will think exactly like you do but doesnt mean you cant still form bonds.

Friday, May 4, 2007, 3:27 PM

while riding a bus for a long journey i noticed a very young mother with a punk-rock style, half-shaved head & multiple piercings sitting with her infant. another woman, much older, with traditional African garb and a heavy Jamacain accent, was sitting near the young mother, and was watching over what appeared to be her grandchild of about 4 years old. the young mother's infant started crying almost uncontrollably. in just minutes, the older woman rose from her seat and sat down right next to the young mother, gently accepting the infant and cooing the infant back to sleep. i thought to myself, "wow! these two women, who at first glance have nothing noticably in common, are completely connected through the bonds of motherhood/caretaker." i wondered, if the two had been on the bus without their respective children, would they have even spoke to one another. it really was an epiphany for me. i realized that you never know, and cannot judge, who you may find comfort with or because of, nor do you know who you may affect with a simple, kind gesture.

the op's words remind me of that experience, as do many situations on a daily basis. you sometimes have to search for a connection, but other times, just try for a moment to notice a commonality and it may bridge the gap between you and someone you would not have considered speaking with before.

Friday, May 4, 2007, 3:53 PM

i wish more people had that epiphany...and soon!

Monday, May 7, 2007, 4:25 PM

it's funny how tiny moments can make a lasting impression like that! it's nice to read such uplifting comments!

Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 8:53 AM

I TRY to not judge people and let them live how they want to live and believe what they want to believe and hope that they let me do the same.

Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 9:09 AM

Too many people in this world take everything at first glance and never try to step beyond the boundaries of race, ethnicity, class, gender, etc....

A funny moment this weekend for me...

Here's some background that will help to understand what I'm talking about.....

I'm Asian American and my hubby's white....The 2 of us had to attend 2 gatherings this weekend...(both on the same evening.)

1 was a party for a friend of mine graduating with her Master's Degree. The party was in a brand new neighborhood on the outskirts of a major urban city. She's African American and at her party, my hubby and I were basically the only 2 people who were not. We were dressed up and I had a great time enjoying the food, dancing to some hustles (some of which kicked my butt big-time!) and hanging out--and would have stayed longer if I hadn't had to go to another event....

From that party, we went to the birthday party of one of my oldest friends from high school. He is one of the kindest people I know and I love his sense of humor....His party was in a rural area, more of a hunter's jacket, and Carhartt kind of crowd (Hubby and I changed and dressed down a bit once we got there.) again, I was in the minority in terms of ethnicity... This time, however, I was the only non-white person at the party ... But the funny thing is that in a way, I felt actually a bit more out-of-place at his party than at my other friends' party.... It probably more to do with being there so late than anything else, but it also may have had to do with educational and other social differences between his friends and mine--My hubby and I are both college educated, and most of his friends are more blue-collar. Again, we had a good time and a lot of fun and silliness happened (my friend's a great one for giving me belly laughs until I practically cough a lung out...)

The funny thing is that in either situation, had I not made an effort (in the past) to get to know these 2 extremely different people, I don't think I'd ever be at either party... ;0)

The cool thing is that I enjoy talking to people and getting to know them, despite the outward barriers of what others perceive these people to be. I was taught the belief that everyone should be treated with dignity-- obviously, we can't all agree on everything every time, but we can learn to respect each others as individuals, and not as what they might "represent" to others. ;-)

I think that makes for a richer world and a richer existence for myself and my friends. :-)

Tuesday, May 8, 2007, 5:21 PM

interesting, sociologically speaking!

Monday, May 21, 2007, 10:47 AM

5:21 I *strongly* advise you to get a friend to nominate you for a Nobel Prize. This searing insight will no doubt illumate the ignorant masses.

Monday, May 21, 2007, 10:54 AM

it's incredible the experiences you can open yourself up to when you remove the stereotypical ideas we all form based solely on appearance. i'll bet a lot of us here who are unhappy with our weight but feel good about our personality can really relate to the concept. how wonderful to see that action being taken in real life situations, not just talked about on daytime tv.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007, 1:50 PM

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