To experience that people are different from my first judgements.
By Simone, an Art Teacher from The Netherlands.
At the start of the event, when we were asked to pair up and share our answers to the question 'Why the f* are we here?', I gave an answer, but I was wrong. The real reason was revealed to me during the first dance session. After we were asked to acknowledge the others on the dance floor, I realised that I was going to experience again that (most) people are different from what I think of them at first sight. I need these experiences.
Apparently, there is still a very judgemental side in me, which pops up as soon as I am exposed to new people: I find them either scary, or weird, or scary and weird, or I like them and I am sure that they do not like me. I strongly disagree with my quick judgements, but that does not prevent my thoughts from popping up. I think that these thoughts are a coping mechanism for a feeling of insecurity. I try to laugh about them and to switch over to my natural curiosity for people. But sometimes I do follow my first thoughts and choose to avoid interaction with the other. I am still learning when it is best to ignore my judgements and when to trust them.
Somehow, I felt that the real purpose for this weekend for me was to be exposed to interactions with people and to experience how wrong my first judgements can be. And this turned out to be so healing.
