Calendar Books by Allen James - Daily Reading - "A Woman's Daily Guide to Success"

Calendar Books by Allen James' reading for May 5th from "A Woman's Daily Guide to Success", "Have diverse friends".

First, let's make sure we all have a clear understanding of what "diverse" really means before we all tied up in the misconception many have of diversity meaning race. Diversity is much more.

According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, diversity means "the condition of having or being composed of differing elements : variety; especially : the inclusion of different types of people (as people of different races or cultures) in a group or organization" (www.merriam-webster.com).

How does having diverse friendships encourage positivity and personal success one may ask...simple....when we surround ourselves with "spice" we exude a more flavorful existence.

Certainly we can all recall being told at one time or another, "Variety is the spice of life". Having a diverse group of friends assists us in meeting other diverse individuals which expands our experiences, thus exposing us to learning new things. The more diverse friends, the better we are in relating to the world around us as we mature. However, to meet diverse people, me must put ourselves in situations which are not always comfortable.

Cherie Burbach, of about.com says, "The key to meeting people in these types of situations is to have a sense of humor. You will feel a bit awkward and out of the place, and that's the point. Don't fight it. Instead, laugh off any nervousness and look to the people around you to help you adjust. These are the folks you'll likely connect with" (www.friendship/about.com).

Certainly the more people we get to know the better we are at having a diverse group of friends. Burbach goes on to say, "When it comes to finding new friends, consider breaking the standard rules of small talk and chat up some folks who share a different opinion in subjects that are usually taboo, like religion and politics. Rather than trying to change the person's mind, converse with the goal of trying to understand exactly where they are coming from" (about.com).

Meeting people who have a completely different viewpoint adds to our lives. Once we agree to disagree, we can get to know each other on a more personal basis. These are people who we would normally overlook when it comes to friendship, which makes engaging them all the more important to growing a diverse base of friends.

Have diverse friends. Expanding your group of friends expands your view of the universe. Small thinking results in small living.

Keep looking up. : ) AJ