The news today portrays us living in a “dog-eat-dog world,” where everyone is divided, separate, and pitted against each other. I’d like to offer a different perspective if you care to immerse yourself with me.
I went to my first peaceful protest at eight years old. It was the middle of summer when our sister suburb north of the Twin Cities declared English as its official language, thereby refusing to fund translations of city documentation into other languages. Some people justified it by saying that those who immigrate to the United States need to learn to adapt to the culture by immersing themselves in English. My Peace Corps veteran parents gathered our family friends, and we marched in the city’s annual parade holding signs reading “peace” in multiple languages. I didn’t fully understand why we were doing what we were doing, but I knew that the message was unity, equality, standing up for what’s right, and creating peace on Earth.
I grew up in an inclusive and diverse world, with a community of different backgrounds. My family has always celebrated holidays of other cultures like Dia de Los Muertos, Lunar New Year, Summer Solstice, Christmas and Hanukkah, as a way to create inclusivity and open-mindedness.
In the fall of 2018, I flew to Toronto with my mom to watch her speak on a panel at The Parliament of the World’s Religions. Over 8,300 people from 81 nations and 118 different faith traditions gathered for global understanding, peace, and change. We spent a week learning about other religions, beliefs, and cultures. We ate from a sufra (a cloth spread on the floor to honor and respect God and the food we were eating) with Muslim and Hindu friends. We listened to the Reggae Legend Pato Banton sing, “Love Is The Greatest Thing,” and I connected with other youth of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim faiths to bring peace globally. The experience was a powerful collection of the human race learning to understand and love each other.
As I interacted with my new friends, it became clear we all had the same question. How do we live in a world where we all see “the truth” from different angles? The answer was so simple: love.
We could all agree that we had vastly different understandings of religion, and yet we all had the same mission to ignite the world in global peace, unity, and coexistence. I didn’t experience anything but respect and inclusion, immersed in a sea of fish all different from me.
It took me a while to understand that maybe coexistence with other religions could be applied to the differences of political beliefs as well. 2020 was a hard year for us all. One of the joys I got to experience was meeting one of my (now) best friends, who happened to be on the COMPLETE opposite political side than I was. My loving, coexisting, “all-inclusive” brain was baffled to try to comprehend how someone could possibly think so differently from me, and still be one of the kindest, wisest, most remarkable and incredible people I’d ever met. The friendship started out like fire and ice, and somehow (through the power of love and understanding) we managed to melt each other’s hearts. We realized we were both mirrors, shining the message of love, from different sides of the aisle.
We still voted differently in this last election, but both of us voted for love from our different perspectives. When we disagree, it’s no longer in judgment or anger. It’s simply a loving, respectful conversation to truly listen and learn from each other.
I am now truly honored to say that I have friends from many walks of life. I have people whom I love with different religious beliefs, different political beliefs, and different philosophies on life. People who look different from me, think differently from me, and live different lives from me, and yet we all have learned to peacefully, respectfully, coexist. All of my people have big hearts. I don’t tolerate hate, and I don’t interact with those who do. Even when I don’t understand or agree with others, I have learned to honor and respect them for who they are: human beings.
I’d like to leave you to ponder this: What if you could step into another’s shoes? What if you could truly learn to love your neighbor as yourself? How could you change the world?
Connect with Maria on The Wellness Universe, and follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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Maria Feider is the Social Media Manager for The Wellness Universe, where she creates engaging digital content, fosters meaningful connections, and helps expand the organization’s mission through strategic social media engagement. In addition to her work in digital media, Maria is an energy healer dedicated to helping individuals realign body, mind, and soul. She supports the release of resistance and energetic blockages, guiding others toward greater clarity, harmony, and overall wellbeing. Maria is currently pursuing a degree in Integrative Health and Wellness Coaching and is Reiki Levels I & II certified.
Thank you, Maria, for shining such a radiant light on what’s possible when we choose love over fear. Your message is a balm in these divisive times and a call to remember our shared humanity. May we all be willing to step into another’s shoes and let love guide our way forward.
What an incredible message of hope! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your heart with the world.
A truly beautiful, profound, and inspiring article. You can feel a heart filled with love, respect, and openness. Thank you for sharing this, which invites reflection and a greater love for others. 🙏🏾
Thank you so much, Mom Leah, for sharing this beautiful message with me.