Someone once told me I was racist because I believed all lives mattered because we were all human. That honestly kinda stung. It hurt me a lot. Rocked my core.

If that person only knew the heart I had for Hispanic culture. If that person only knew that I once stayed in the mountains with the Huichol people of Nayarit, Mexico, with no electricity for two weeks so that we could build them houses. I shoveled heavy rocks alongside the men and carried them to the cement mixer so that we could lay down the foundation for the house.  If that person only knew how I cried for days after I returned from Mexico because I couldn’t remember words in English. I was going through culture shock yet again.

If that person only knew, but they didn’t. They made a snap judgment of me in seconds and it hurt.

Words hurt my friends. Be careful how you use them.

If you know me and know me well, then you know that I am probably one of the most diverse people out there. Yes, I am white. Yes, I am not of color, but my family has its own diversity with my father’s side having a Native American heritage and my mother’s side being Irish and French. I have interacted with more cultures and backgrounds than you would think. I have traveled to other countries and learned about the people who lived there. I love learning about people who are not like me.

I am not writing this blog to tell that person they are wrong. I am not writing this blog to be proud of who I am. I am only writing this blog because I think that during these times it is important to remember we are all human no matter what background, race, or ethnicity you come from.

YOU MATTER! YOUR LIFE MATTERS!

Oh precious human, how my heart reaches out to you during these troubled times. How I wish you would understand how much you are worth.

Everyone was created with a purpose. No matter who you are. No matter your skin color.

Everyone was meant for so much more than they think.

I am human. You are human.

We are all human.

Look at yourself in the mirror. What do you see? Don’t look at your flaws, but look at the beauty within.

We all have a beating heart. We all have blood that rushes through our veins this very minute.

Our hearts are beating as one. One people.

We are all humans who have made mistakes. We have different pasts, presents, and futures.

We can’t even begin to compare our lives to one another. Everyone is on a different journey.

We have to accept that everyone’s life is precious. Everyone’s life is important.

When all lives matter, that includes everyone, not just a specific race, background, or ethnicity. We cannot just single out a race because we want to make ourselves feel more important. I say this with love. I am only human, so that means I am not perfect and I do not know everything, but I do know that all lives matter.

No matter where you come from.

No matter what you have done.

No matter what your background, race, ethnicity.

No matter your story, no matter what lies ahead…

All lives matter.

Black lives.

White lives.

Hispanic lives.

Asian Lives.

European Lives.

South American Lives.

Canadian Lives.

Australian Lives.

New Zealander Lives.

Pan Pacific Islander Lives.

Native American Lives.

Middle Eastern Lives.

The Unborn Lives.

The Once Lived Lives.

Broken Lives.

The Put Together Lives.

The People Searching for What’s Left of Their Lives, Lives.

The Missing Lives.

The Veteran’s Lives.

War Hero’s Lives.

If you are human then your life matters.

YOUR LIFE MATTERS.