Different, equal

Photo by Perry Grone on Unsplash

I am different

I am different to most people, not just because I am gay (approximately 2% of the population) or because I have dyspraxia (up to 10% of the population) but because I am childless (approximately 15-20% of the population).

I am childless not by choice.

Different, yet equal

This does sometimes still make me sad, sometimes I still feel loss, and grief, and resentment, and frustration and fear and many other things too. But more and more I feel that yes, I am different, but I am also equal. I am not less important or less worthy because I don’t have children and those with them are not more important or worthy because they do.

There are two sides to the scales, and they are level.

I know that this is contrary to some popular opinion, and I know some people will disagree with me but I do believe it to be true.

No one way to living a life of worth

I don’t see my life as less good than anyone else’s life, or as better. In my opinion, there is no one way to living a life of worth. Measuring us against each other seems harmful, comparisons can be imprecise and painful. They diminish us all - our uniqueness, and the variety of paths we walk and will walk in our lives.

All different, all equal

I am different, I am equal, and perhaps, really, we are all different and we are all equal.

And perhaps that means that I am not different, after all.  

If I can help you embrace your difference, then please do