You know, I started today with the intention of writing a post about something which I experience yesterday. It was an odd and eye opening experience for me, and I suppose it really made me realise the world we live in, and it made me forget the little bubble that I exist in.
And then I went onto twitter, and I saw the #holocaustmemorialday, and I stopped writing the blog post I had intended. Once again, everything was put into perspective.
I’m Jewish. I make no qualms about that. I’m very open about it in fact. My mother was Jewish, and she raised me to be this way. I’m not Orthodox, and actually I wouldn’t say I’m religiously Jewish, to me, it’s not like that. It’s not preaching, it’s not telling people my beliefs, it’s family. The thing that makes me Jewish isn’t going to the synagogue, or praying, or having dinner at my mum’s on Friday night. It’s the way I was brought up, the values I was instilled with, and it’s who I am, and people, mothers, fathers, children, died because of who they are. And that’s heartbreaking.
Yet, it’s been 71 years, and how much has changed? We still live in a world where people die, and are killed not because of what they are, but because of who they are. And there’s a difference.
If people ask me what I do, I’m a personal trainer. But if people ask me who I am, I’m a writer. My husband, is just that, my husband, but he’s not, not really, I would still love him as much if he weren’t my husband, he’s the person I feel most comfortable with, safest with, loved by. Who we are isn’t something that can be categorised or labelled, it’s so much more than that. People are more than labels.
I thought we would’ve learnt that by now.
Normally, I end with stay frosty. Tonight, I want you to find the person who means the most to you, and just make them smile; over the phone, via Facebook, twitter, in person, whichever way you can. Life is unpredictable, and it’s important to make sure the people who mean the most to you, know they do. And trust me, it’s nice to hear.
So stay warm, cosy, and in the thoughts of those who love you.
Ice.