Why Did I Name This Blog blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen?

BAWASOG. That’s the acronym I use for my blog drafts. Even it is too long.

I’m the person who writes poems that don’t rhyme. I tell “jokes” with no punchline. I tell stories with no point. I wear clothes that don’t match. I take 10 pics of the same pose and keep them all. Why? That’s just me. I enjoy the moment and I like to share moments. I’m not good at branding because, at my very core, I really don’t care how you see me. Or maybe too dull to understand why I should. All of these are the reasons that I shun trends and almost anything that is popular. I look for a deeper level explanation in everything. As a consequence, I tend to overthink and over-complicate things that could be made more simple. My thoughts get all bunched together and then, are expressed in nonsensical patterns. Please forgive me and tolerate my humanity if it is not too much trouble. All of this partly explains why chose to name my blog blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen.

So, unless you are a marketing professional, the real question is probably: “What does it actually mean?” Here is my best attempt to explain. 

‘blackandwhite’

Because I have this passion around the topic of “race”, the words “black and white” just seemed obvious. Most of us like to pretend that we have no biases and that we’re colorblind. If we are honest, we’ll admit that many of our conversations with our closest friends, behind closed doors, will include a description of a person’s “race” or ethnic features/background when describing our life experiences.

For some, “race” is black or white. It is defined. It is a label. It is an identity. It is even a distinct personality. For others, it is just a concept. A conflict. A complicated life-long story. To me, the concept of “race” is like a picket fence. A picket fence is both nothing and something at the same time. A picket fence can’t protect a house from intruders. It’s not a retaining wall or a fortress wall – which both actually do real work. A picket fence can’t read, write or dance. It does not function in any way except to create a physical representation of a boundary. Outsiders make their assumptions about what is inside of it. Insiders decide what it means to them and how they expect others to interact with it. The insiders and outsiders each make plans, take actions, and execute judgments based on how they choose to interact with the other side of something that really is nothing…..except for one thing. The acknowledgment or dismissal of the picket fence has real consequences or impact. You can’t make too much of a picket fence, but you can also get into or cause big trouble if you ignore or disrespect it.

Maybe I should have named my blog: picketfence.com. Soooo much quicker to say and type. Are you feeling this analogy? No? This is the best I can do. Please, just go with it.

‘Shades of green’

Ten plus years ago we found an amazing property that we purchased as our family home. Previous owners had “gone bananas” with landscaping. We literally had at least 15 banana trees, numerous shrubs, plants, and flowers, growing and blooming from spring to fall. It was beautiful! Despite our limited horticultural skills, sad maintenance schedule, and attack kids who have practiced more than a few karate chops, sword swings, and crane kicks on our plant life, it is still amazingly beautiful. Our backyard has views of pine, maple, oak, birch, sweetgum, mimosa, and holly trees. There are also many other flowers, plants, and shrubs. We have a pond with lily pads, lotus flowers, and lots of beautiful green frogs in and around it. Finally, there is wonderful thick grass that grows so beautifully in the summer.

I’m not an artist and have no concept of the makings of beauty. But I do enjoy the beauty of nature. I inhale it as if it were created just for me. One morning while doing so, I was overwhelmed by the joy that came from looking out at a simple landscape. Why is our backyard so beautiful? Is it the various species of plants? Is it the slope of the yard? Is it the amazing outdoor kitchen, sparkling in-ground pool, with stone patio and cabana? Definitely no, as we have none. Then I saw it. It was all the different shades of green. From the grass to the trees and all in between, there was green! (Wow! That was totally a Dr. Seuss moment. I am so gifted!) I realized the diversity in God’s creation and how things could be so different, yet create such unity. The same, yet different, all beautiful in its own way. It is breathtaking when all the differences come together and just………………… are. As I thought about this blog, that picture came back to me.

Some of us have similar experiences, backgrounds, physical appearance (green), but we think very differently about them (shades). Conversely, some of us differ in all observable aspects of our identity but somehow manage to come to many of the same conclusions about this life. Experiences, perspectives, and how we choose to engage based on these add even more diversity to life. There are many stories to be told, many perspectives to be considered. It’s not a competition, it’s an experience in growth. The plants, trees, grasses, shrubs, and little green froggies in my backyard have this one thing in common: they are growing together. And so are we.

And there you have it: blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen. Although this jumbled-up explanation has not clarified anything, I did try. The blog is called: blackandwhiteandshadesofgreen. Accept it. Embrace it. Celebrate it. But you might want to skip trying to understand it.