Don't Try To Box Me

I have always been the type of person who enjoys a variety of different things not necessarily just those things that are identified soley with my culture or race. I am also a person who thrives on peace, balance, and harmony. If you know anything about me, then you know that my heart is big, I am a loyal and forgiving person, and while there are periods of negative storms, for the most part I spread positive light. You also would know that I greet everyone with a smile and if I know you, that smile also comes with a genuine hug. The one thing that you may not know, is that I despise being locked down, stereotyped, or placed in a box. I have friends from all walks of life, with different experiences and on very different paths. Additionally, I personally have many many different interests. I think this is part of what makes me interesting...don't you? I went to a happy hour with a friend and she said to me, after a few drinks, "...Rae you are so funny with your FaceBook posts. Ghetto with all of that Who Dat. What is that? I've never seen this side of you before." WTH...Who Dat, Ghetto? (confused blank stare...then and now). That was several months ago, but that comment struck a cord with me and obviously still weighs heavily on my mind. First of all, if you have spent any amount of time with me, then you would know that the word ghetto is not an adjective that one would use to describe me. However, last night I started thinking about all of my different social circles and I wondered what type of impressions or mark have I made on them respectively and collectively. I asked myself..self, do the people in those groups think that all of my interest are completely aligned with theirs? I sure hope not, but if they do then they clearly have not gotten to know me very well. Please know that just because I am a suburban soccer mom, it does not mean that I only listen to Justine Beiber or Celine Dion. Or the fact that I LOVE old school hip hop, that I don't also love musicals like Rent or West Side Story. And it definitely does not mean that I am ghetto just because I scream Who Dat louder than most all football season long! Get it together people and stop placing folks in boxes. Or better yet, if YOU are stuck in a box try stepping out of it sometimes. You will be surprised at what you will learn when you open yourself up to ALL that the world has to offer. And more importantly for me, don't try to rock my peace, balance or harmony by placing me in some stupid box. That's all...oh and Who Dat! Peace & Love, Rae