One word. Five letters. Many meanings. Some angst. Some anger. Some pride. Here are some definitions, according to Oxford Languages:
“Pride” is a word with a lot of conflicted history behind it. Pride was first on the list of the seven deadly sins, yet “pride of place” speaks to giving the very best location to a person or object that is revered. Then there’s the sense of national pride, which is celebrated the world over. Pride can be very confusing!
C.S. Lewis, writing in “Mere Christianity,” said: “A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” Thomas Jefferson wrote lists of life rules for his relatives, including this: “Pride costs us more than hunger, thirst, and cold.” With a bit of a contrarian bent, in her book “Pride and Prejudice” Jane Austin wrote, “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.”
Which brings us to the third definition above for the word “pride.”
June is Pride Month, as you’ve probably noticed. Just as with Black History Month, Women’s History Month, and the months spotlighting Arab-American Heritage, Asian Pacific Heritage, Jewish Heritage, and Hispanic Heritage, Pride Month exists to shine a light on the contributions the spotlighted community has given to the world. More on those in a minute, but first - what are your emotions as it relates to this recognition of the LGBTQ+ community? Are you feeling angst, anger, pride, or maybe something else?
If you interact with human beings, you interact with members of the LGBTQ+ community, whether you know it or not. If you lead a team, chances are someone you lead is celebrating Pride Month, though maybe very, very quietly. If education about the LGBTQ+ community causes you angst or even anger, then this is an area of personal development you might consider. Angst and anger are harmful to your body as well as to your interactions with family, friends, and co-workers. The world’s second-shortest podcast can help you with some mindset tools you can use whenever you need them:
Now, about those LGBTQ+ people who have made tremendous contributions to the world:
All your life you’ve been positively influenced by people who would now be considered part of the LGBTQ+ community. You’ve read books, admired art, used technology, and benefitted from the life’s work of people who might have been out or they might have remained closeted. You’ve felt the advantage of laws designed to ensure freedom for everyone. Perhaps this Pride Month is a good time to celebrate the beautiful spectrum of possibilities as well as abilities. Rainbows up!
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