Literally every tea leave and primary source possible (JSTOR now has free content from sponsors very lucky) to be able to understand the incoming pressures of cultural identity. I think what's helped the most is realizing you can't walk in another's shoes but you can become a lot wiser in how your actions and reactions are deployed. I learned to love outside of my sphere, recognizing I love things that are entirely different than me, but also because sometimes its okay to feel a bias and home warmth for a sense of self. I don't feel I've changed - but grown. Growing is great because there's going to be that anchor point in my life where I stopped trying to keep up with the things people we're acquiring or doing because I felt I was behind from the time I graduated high school (where I was very well ahead, or so I thought). But through it all I learned, everyone in this world suffers in one way or another if they aren't part of the guardian class. I don't hate them for it, I am just curious as to how someone who desires not to rule and realizes apologizing to people is just a way of belittling them as inferiors of their ancestors legacy - can lead. Then my solution was, if I ever was called into service, I would not lead by mandate or trying to apologize and get everyone to like me. I would lead by listening and making myself the glue of this tiled and patched together world. Humans have many identies tied to their culture. If I learn enough about enough culture I start to respect the differences more than the similarities in many noble cases. If you can do that all on your own and be prepared to serve, but not feel left out if you don't get to lead or manage (bleh I hate that word, it's like verbal bondage) - you can still paint a better picture of the world by leaving behind a broad brushstroke of appreciation and gratitude for a diverse group of people. I don't get angry anymore. I can get passionate, but I really do love the ability to understand without any incentive other than 6 years ago I started looking into the truth of what I was told by my doctors (I was very sick) and what I could figure out on my own to live past my illness. I lived. I found things mysterious to me that must've made me a bit mad for awhile. I am not longer surprised, intimidated, or impatient. I don't try to keep up or show off possessions to lead. I try to learn how to serve to be ready. Thanks for reading.
Chicago was lucky to have you, I was too young to appreciate it. Your Grant Park speech says it all about your intentions. I think a lot of people just adopt a view of the world from their parents. Some people adopt a view of their influencers. I have no biases anymore holding me back. I can say how I actually feel because I give people a chance these days, but as a president - your work was obvious when I looked at the world from outside in. You rose from the same places I call home when you got here as a young adult. It's made me appreciate the microcosm of the United States that Illinois truly is.
D.
