Tuesday, August 12, 2008

What's in it for me?


What’s in it for me?

Life is not easy for any of us. We each have our struggles, be they visible to others or not, we still have them. We usually toil and struggle in our professional lives, work hard where it is required, then surround ourselves with people we enjoy or are comfortable around to accommodate relaxation or recreation. Our social lives are usually a path of least resistance, or high return investment, designed to give balance or fulfillment to our otherwise stressful and taxing existence.

Diversity in our social lives is not easy and sometimes seems unnatural. This diversity need not be racial, it can be economic or nationality, gender or musical tastes, age or religion, but any of these categories of experience or interest, differentiate ourselves one from another. We are usually most comfortable around those we are most alike and form closer relationships with them.

The reasons why friendships across racial lines may be difficult are many, and not really the question being posed. The question is why.

Why should we desire or pursue interaction with those of another race? What, if any, are the benefits? If your/my life is busy and hard, why should I work on something that will only cause more discomfort and stress? Discomfort and stress seam to cause themselves without my asking for it…why would I add more?

Is it worth it?
Why should I try?
Should I try?

5 comments:

Amberlynn said...

On the business side: The more positive contacts you have, the more opportunity you have. EVERY connection you make, especially when outside your usual comfortable confines, is brimming with opportunity. People who know people give themselves greater opportunities.

On the personal side: Who couldn't use more friends? Really! And let's just switch the above word "opportunity" to support. Diversify your friendship circle, and you diversify your safety net.

Unknown said...

Everyone with a different background, race or otherwise, offers a new perspective. Nothing is more valuable in life than perspective. The more ways you learn to look at problems the more likely you are to solve them.

Your own views are necessarily limited to your own experiences so befriending others will give you exposure to experiences you haven't or can't have yourself. Many times, I have received the benefit of wisdom learned without the pain of the struggle just by getting to know someone who has already been through it.

I am always grateful to anyone who is willing to share their hard-earned time, knowledge, or both with me.

Lisa said...

Ah! A post regarding the aspects of friendships! I have a response finally! Is it worth it? YES! Why? For the reasons above... and it's FUN! And adventure to get to know someone, to become more fully developed as a human being, to learn, to stretch, to gain understanding, to learn to question yourself and all of the beliefs you've always held, to learn to value your values, to share, to bond, to increase the circle of the camaraderie of just being alive on this earth! Should I try? Duh! Should I turn down a million dollars just because I don't like the color green? Should I not get out of bed because I just might die today? Thanks for the post, bro!

Anonymous said...

I believe that there has got to be more to life than just the day to day rigors and struggles of existence. If we aren't trying to learn, grow, and expand our experiences, than why are we putting so much effort into our lives. Why do we struggle through one day, just to get to the next day of struggles? That idea seems a pretty bleak one to me. Expanding our experiences through expanding our diversity and relationships with others may be one of the most beneficial things we can ever accomplish in this life.

brohammas said...

So the idea is friends of all kinds are good, so why not friends of another race?

What of those who are simply not friendly by nature? Many do not seek or need many friends. Many are content with a small circle of confidants and close the circle tightly. What of them?

Knowing many people are like this, how can, or can we, interpret the reactions we get when approaching new people... especially ones of another race?

Are they rejecting our race, or are they simply not a friendly person?

If you do not know them, you cannot tell.