Where does diversity show up in your life? How many kinds can you count? Why is it so important?

The word for the day bubbled up as I wandered around London’s historic Kew Gardens, which bills itself as one of the more biodiverse places on earth. Certainly in the realm of plant life, the variety is remarkable. Biodiversity is the living signature of our planet earth.

I got to thinking about all the different dimensions in which diversity manifests. I struggled to think of cases where more diversity would be a bad idea. I thought about how it’s a simple concept yet nowadays it’s often reduced to a divisive narrative.

London, of course, and many other major cities are social melting pots where the strength and beauty of peoples from all over the world coexist and thrive together. The great variety of cultures that come together create a vibrant urban fabric where the sum is greater than the parts.

You’ve heard the phrase “variety is the spice of life” and in so many ways it’s true. At the same time, when it comes to nature, there’s great value in maintaining the balance of an ecosystem to ensure native species survive and thrive. In the plant and animal worlds, invasive species are no joke.

Your own body is a good example. More and more research is proving that having a wide variety of beneficial micro-organisms in your digestive system is one of the pillars of good health.

You are far more than just a single human being, you are a walking, talking microbiome of tiny little critters all dancing around inside you to keep your consciousness housed and on the move. It pays to keep them happy.

As in most things, there’s a balance to be had. You do well to keep your cultural traditions, your family recipes, and your language alive and well. It’s a service to both your ancestors and future generations. You also do a service to your community when you approach others with tolerance, understanding, and respect.

Later on at dinner after our big day at the botanic gardens, the five us around the table realized that we all originated in different countries, representing England, Australia, New Zealand, France, and the USA. Geographical diversity is a feature of our mobile and modern world.

It’s not so much a question of assimilating and losing sight of your roots. It’s more about appreciating and learning from every reflection of the human experience that comes your way.

Who you are and where you come from is something to cherish, so know that your flavor is an essential ingredient in a divinely diverse pot!

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #673

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar