I think the term was “cross the line” but I could be wrong. It was 3 or 4 years ago…but, I think you will get the concept.  I was fortunate to attend a school sponsored event called Challenge Day. The memory of the event came up on Facebook yesterday of what I’d experienced.

While there are a number of confidentiality rules that I do remember from that day, I do believe however that I am free to share the intent of the day’s activities – at least what I took away from that day…

The facilitators went through a number of experiences that they describe as being, essentially, more common than you think.

You are not alone.

They called out a series of questioning statements – things like this…and more:

• If you are a woman.
• If you are a man.
• If you love women.
• If you love men.
• If you have lied to someone.
• If someone has lied to you.
• If you have hurt someone.
• If you have been hurt.
• If someone you loved has died.
• If you have known someone who has committed suicide.
• If you have made a mistake.
• If you have been asked/forced to do something that you haven’t wanted to do.
• If you have been left out.
• If you have felt alone.
• If you have left someone behind.
• If you have lost someone to alcohol.
• If you know someone who abuses drugs.
• If you have a mother.
• If you have a father.

If they were true – you had to walk 10 to 15 feet to step across a tape line.  Through the entire exercise, people went back and forth until everyone had done it.

In the end, everyone was on the other side.

The same side.

Everyone who taken those steps, who trusted themselves and the group around them, to cross the line, realized that they were not alone. We all have common ground. I know that we want to promote and recognize special people and groups in particular. I just hope that we never forget that we are more alike than we are different.

~ Dawn aka Hat Girl