It's been a while, I know. Grad school can do that to you. Takes you out of the world, swimming in a miasma of your own thoughts, distilling you down to that one purpose, one vision, until you emerge more than a butterfly, less than a caterpillar.
I chose this. School, work, school, repeat.
I chose this. Learning how best to help people.
I chose this. Serving those who cannot serve themselves.
I chose this. Seeing a glimmer of hope in every hopeless case.
Do not speak to me of immigration status, incarceration status, gender identification, who they love, who you hate. Do not speak to me of gender preference, skin color, religious inclination, political affiliation. Do not speak to me of language barriers, substance use, lifestyle choices, past lives, future mistakes. That person you despise could be you some day. Broken, depressed, lost. Treat them the way you would want to be treated. Because that is how I will treat you.
Because. I. Chose. This.
And I will choose it again tomorrow.
