A couple weeks ago I republished a piece from 3 years ago regarding my propensity to gather various people’s perspectives when mulling a theory or trying to solve a problem. I make a point of consulting as diverse a group as possible because you’d just be amazed what you find out if you talk to people from different cultures and I mean talking to them in depth, beyond levels that would be considered PC.
I have been this way my whole life and moved to this city for this exact reason: It was the most racially integrated city in this county at the time. That’s how serious I am about exposing myself to as wide a range of views as possible and recently I realized I’ve found a new way to expand my expansion.
I now consult (heavily) with people from a range of generations. Matter of fact I’ve got 40-50 years covered and would like to expand on that if I could.
My contact to represent the 20-somethings is the soldier’s son. He’s thoughtful, polite, intelligent, educated and has a wide range of experience around the world. He is particularly knowledgeable about various cultures where I have enormous lack which is a great bonus.
HQ is my contact who represents the 30-somethings. He also has a wide range of experience having lived and traveled around the world. He is my go-to person for any and all things Asian. There is no end to what’s he’s taught me.
satori is my contact in the 40-something range. This is my age range but she’s somewhat younger than me and she comes from a very different world. Namely, she was raised to be civilized and I never tire of hearing about what that’s like.
Claire-France Perez is my contact for the over 50 set as is Jacquie Bigar. There is no end to what either woman can (and will) tell you. On the male side, my life long friend, Ben is now in his 50’s and he also pulls no punches.
This group is racially mixed. They are French, Arab, African, Italian, Japanese… etc. Most of them are mixed race themselves and they are politically mixed as well. But the main thing is the age.
By talking to a broad range of people like this I have been able to discover differences between generations that help me to better comprehend things.
This may not be popular but I have to say that the differences between the generations seem rooted in how each group was educated. In other words, it’s a JUPITER thing which does make sense.
It is interesting to talk to a range of people like this but it is not easy. This is particularly true if you are going to broach sensitive topics which you know I am. But jeez is it worth it.
Can you imagine how stupid I would be if I didn’t do this? I don’t even like to think about it.
Do you have friendships outside your realm (race, age, politics, etc.)?
9 Responses to “Diversity (For Those Who Can Handle It)”
Yes, My knitting buddy Shirley is in late 70’s and Jewish. I’m Black and 34. We connect on the crafts but also on similar life experiences. I’m going through things that she has experienced. I cherish our interactions because when we talk it’s woman to woman.
Yes. I have a menagerie of ages and nationalities.
A Jupiter thing uh, that’s interesting, hadn’t thought about that but now it seems obvious. I actually don’t have that many people my own age or native culture, even when I lived in my home town:/ and I often wonder about that, what it would be like.
Yes…every weekend for the last 2-3 years I have been taking my grandmother (93) out to lunch with her beau, Hugh (90)(Virgo) and we always have a great time. My grandmother’s alzheimers has progressed considerably in the last 8 months, but Hugh and I have maintained this friendship and we still talk several times a week and I take him to lunch now without my grandma because she is so weak. I treasure Hugh…he brings so much wisdom to the table and he is so wonderful to me…
Of course, I could not do without my latina friends….one is from Cuba,(Cancer0 another from Ecuador(Scorpio), and another from chile.(Picses)….they keep me in touch with my roots…they are my family…sisters
As I mentioned, I live in the South now and I have a very good friend who was born and raised here and had never been out of the state, let alone the country until I took her, but she has shown me so much about the American way and for that I am grateful…she is one of the funniest people I know…just plain witty….she is in her sixties.
another friend is one I did not want to be friends with when we met, but she was persistent and I am so glad…..she is only 26, but brings such a fresh perspective to life and is so brave for someone so young and extremely smart. When we first met…through another good friend of mine…she was his new girlfriend and I didn’t like that he was dating someone so much younger than himself…he can be a pig at times so I presumed she was a ditz…but then she told me that she had a strong smell of pipe tobacco when she stood next to me and asked me if someone in my life smoked pipes….my father was a huge pipe smoker and one of the many things I loved about him and only people who knew him knew that about him too, so first clue that she was not a ditz (Leo/Libra)…am now crazy about her.
I do. It’s one of the reasons why I love living in a city, as opposed to the logging town I grew up in. So many different people doing different things! (my chart is Jupiter ruled).
My friends range in age from early 20’s to late 40’s, and I’m 32, so I would say that’s quite diverse. I get along well with people in their late teens and those over 50 as well, but those I count only as aquaintances.
Sagittarius rising, Jupiter in Gemini; Saturn in the 7th trine Neptune and sextile Mercury, Venus, Mars and Pluto.
My friends are not politically diverse, which probably can be ascribed to Pluto on the 9th house cusp and Uranus also in the 9th. Uranus is certainly open-minded, but nevertheless fixed in Scorpio;)
My country happens to be one of the more ethnically homogeneous. My knowledge of other cultures is brought to me nostly via my studies, mass media - and the internet, of course. Almost forgot; I travel abroad more often than most, and I have actually lived abroad as well, for six months in the mid 90’s:)
T Saturn is now approaching my 8th house Sun for the second time…
I think it’s time I changed my nickname;D
And, I apologize for being late in answering, but we(or I) learn as much from you as you do from us.
There is very little respect from generation to generation. You have it. I have it. But many don’t.
This is one of my tirades..so I will let it go know. Thanks for
the compliment. Elsa.
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