Melodio in November discusses the topic of equality

Equality does not start on paper. It starts in the mind. Equality is not about everyone having the same. It is about everyone having their place, their purpose, and their value.

At the Melodio Foundation, I coach people with disabilities – often blind or severely visually and physically impaired. Each of them has their own unique story, but they share one thing in common: they want to live a life worth living. Not to live despite their disability, but with it.

When we talk about equality, most people imagine social change or politics. But real equality happens much closer – in our minds. The moment a person begins to believe that they have the right to be heard, to bring ideas, to create, to love, to grow and to fail, life reveals itself in all its beauty. And when we stop perceiving others by their limitations and start seeing them by their possibilities, we may find ourselves standing with our mouths open at how they can enrich us.

Each of us has a role in this world that no one else can replace. Each of us carries some kind of handicap. Whether we see or not. Whether we walk on our own feet or rely on others’ help.

Equality means that we all have the right to bring our piece of good to this world. The world is full of souls worthy of our attention. Souls that can bring us much good – if we allow them to. If we support them in it.

Try today to notice someone you might have overlooked before. And instead of asking ‘In what way is he different?’, ask ‘In what ways are we similar?’ You might find that equality has been here all along – we just stopped perceiving it somehow.

Author: Vojtěch Cibulka, Melodio Foundation Coach

Photo: Melodio Foundation, Veronika Pilařová