Stealing realities

To the Editor:

As a human animal, and a cancer patient, just letting go is a life sentence. That’s my reality. I have begun to notice that I have to ask folks more often to please not steal my reality.

You know what would really be interesting? I know it is not going to happen in my lifetime, but how about ‘just’ accepting, instead of stealing, the reality of others?

How could it be all that difficult? We could start by actually listening to what our fellow humans are actually saying and not interrupting them with (pointing to the head), “What the heck are you thinking?” Or the famous (with a hand over the mouth), “You shouldn’t say that.” Of course, there’s the ever popular (waving hands in the air), “You just need to let it go.”

No, I will not ‘just let go’ of anything, especially my reality. I suggest, depending on the next election, no one living in the United States of America ‘just let go’ of whatever is their reality, unless they choose to do so.

Not being a person of color or religion, I cannot know those realities. Most of the people I know have not been homeless, disabled Veterans, wealthy, mentally ill, famous, beautiful, drug addicts, powerful, convicts, etc. The list of adjectives goes on and on when describing who we are in this increasingly global society and how we experience our ever-changing realities.

I would ask everyone (family, friends, voters, candidates, volunteers, anyone and everyone who cares about others) to consider the ancient Toltec wisdom of the Four Agreements:
• Be impeccable with your word.
• Don’t take anything personally.
• Don’t make assumptions.
• Always do your best.

To this I would add, “Share and don’t steal the reality of others.”

Thank you,

Ann Gallagher
“Catfish Annie”
Lansing