What would the sky look like if all the clouds were the same?

I wanted to share a few quotes that inspire me in lieu of the usual weekly article. As I am sure you have either experienced or witnessed firsthand, society often rejects or turns their back on those who might seem "different."

Like Dr. Ingrid Amorini-Klimek wrote in her article a few weeks ago, "Equating a need for support, neurodiversity, or any type of disability as 'something wrong' instead of just describing it as another characteristic of a person, much like having blue or brown eyes, summarizes what having a disability translates to for the rest of society."

Let the following be a reminder and an encouragement that we all have something unique and valuable to offer to this the world. Which of these speaks to you the most?

  • "It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences." - Audre Lorde

  • "What would the sky look like if all the clouds were the same? Accept and embrace different. Let your light shine." - Camilla Downs

  • "Not everyone thinks the way you think, knows the things you know, believes the things you believe, nor acts the way you would act. Remember this and you will go a long way in getting along with people." - Arthur Forman

  • "We are all different. Fighting those differences is energy wasted, while accepting the other exactly as thy are will allow your life together to flow smoothly." - Barbara S. Peters

  • "Accepting difference is when you recognize and respect people who are different from you, but also embrace their differences and see what you can learn from them." - Unknown

  • "Every individual matters, every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference." - Jane Goodall

  • "We may have all come in different ships, but we are in the same boat now." - Martin Luther King Jr.

  • "The beauty of the world lies in the diversity of its people." - Unknown

  • "It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength." - Maya Angelou

  • "Accepting all the good and bad about someone, it's a great thing to aspire to. The hard part is actually doing it." - Sarah Dessen

  • "Strength lies in differences not in similarities." - Stephen Covey

  • "Acceptance of others, their looks, their behavior, their beliefs, bring you an inner peace and tranquility instead of anger and resentment." - Unknown