Remembering Humanity

As I walked around the hotel getting ready for the meeting, I was reminded quickly of how easily we can forget the differences that make us human. I walked into the room and arranged some of the chairs, made sure that the glasses had water and that there were no wires or cords for people to trip on (after all, we are working with a group of visually impaired business people). In walked a couple of people from the group, and I said hello, while forgetting for a split second that they had only met me once before in person, and that my voice wasn't all that special to remember... and that they could only have seen me partially blurred at best. Thus, I was reminded that we can be too quick to forget the things that make us unique and different. I then reminded them who I was and what I was doing there, and asked if they needed anything.

After a while we started to go around the room, when working on the consensus process spoken of earlier, and were voicing our opinions and thoughts on the matters at hand. We had most of the people physically present, but had a few on the phone, and were having difficulties hearing them, and they us. We talked with the hotel and were able to acquire a microphone. I had the pleasure, as the intern, to go around the room and help people to use the microphone when it was their turn so that everyone could hear each other. Once again, as I approached the first person, I stretched forth the microphone to hand it to the person, but being visually impaired they did not see this. I felt so silly... but remembered my experience earlier and just thought that I was still learning the culture of this organization and people, and needed another reminder of that. After that I started to understand how to instruct people on when to speak, how close to hold it to their mouth, and when it was appropriate to hand it to them, in a manner that they could receive it.

While this wasn't the best day for me, and my lack of thoughtfulness and understanding for this group of people, I was very grateful for the reminder of the humanity of all of us, and that we need to remember how different and unique everyone is... and that THAT is what makes us human... and humanity.