United Nations Ludwigsburg

What a strange and small world we live in! You can literally move between continents within a few hours and find yourself surrounded by a group of people you’ve never met before, and voilà you are discussing globalization. You are in a small group with two other people from different countries who are kind enough to speak in your language, each with very differing ideas about border walls. Everyone is almost too polite and at the same time you feel no sense of belonging. I wonder if this is how it feels to be a delegate at the U.N.

We all come to situations like this with somewhat of a fixed mindset. A mindset that has been formed by both nature and nurture. While I don’t always believe this about myself, I know it’s true. I have fixed ideas about border walls, and migrants and refugees. And yet I heard many different opinions about these and other topics. And most of them had merit – perhaps they all did!

My biggest take away from the past two days is that we can only grow as individuals and as nations if we are willing to open ourselves up to new possibilities. To learn from history and to look ahead with optimism. To truly listen and find common ground with others. And to come humbly to the table, ready to open our minds and hearts to other perspectives.

Cultural humility anyone?