This story starts with curious little girl whom we will call Anna. She’s but a child and only five years old. She knows this as she holds up five fingers indicating that she’s five when prompted by adults who want to strike up a conversation with her, and often that’s one of the first things they ask.

Among counting, she’s starting to learn to differentiate between colours, and often gets excited when seeing rainbows in the sky. Purple is her favourite colour, and who doesn’t like admiring such beauty and the magical stories told of Gold and leprechauns.

Rainbows form with such distinct colours: each colour melting into the next until you see the seven colours that complete it: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

The same applies to Anna while she’s being moulded and shaped through those who influence her daily: teachers, parents, guardians. All of whom is giving her the life skills she will one day need to become her own unique individual Self. But before that happens, one of the many challenges a parent or guardian is faced with is when a child starts to asks questions.

Children naturally ask a lot of questions and the most awkward and difficult questions to answer are those related to origins; explaining the background of why many have different religions as well as why we all look so different, depending on your ethnic background of course.

I often wonder when we’ve lost our way. Children are so loving and open-minded. They are pure in essence and honest, and one can see that they’re always coming from a place of love and most importantly a place of wanting to be playful.

If you felt like you had no choice but to ‘grow up’ which meant there was no time to play or to have fun. When repeatedly being told to ‘grow up’ forms part of subconscious programming that lead you to believe that you have to act or behave in a certain way; often to seek approval from others.

To continue with the story; Through relentless questioning, Anna have come to understand ethnic backgrounds, so therefore she knows that she is what we would consider Caucasian; a little white girl. Anna is from a family where there’s a mixture of colour: both black and white siblings, so it’s ‘normal’ for her to be in the company of others with different ethnic backgrounds.

Anna accompanied her mother going to the local grocer to do their weekly shopping. After picking up a selection of items they made their way to the checkout. In front of Anna and her mother stood another mixed-race family and she notices another little girl who seems to be part of this particular family as they were silently queuing.

Anna immediately thought that it could be someone she could play with.

Feeling a bit shy, but brave, she gathered the courage to strike up a conversation with what could be a new friend.

Children are open-minded and loving, and they approach anyone without giving it a second thought. They are fearless.

Anna approached the other girl with excitement and of course without a second thought of what she’s about to say or how it would be received. Sshe exclaimed: “I have a cousin that looks just like you!”

The horror! To see the expression on the faces of bystanders in line who overheard of what just transpired were simply indescribable. For some that statement would stop anyone in their tracks, and would be seen as completely inappropriate. For others, the truth is that there’s nothing wrong with that statement. The statement within itself is true and no offence should be taken, unless you believe there’s something wrong with that statement. This is how we are conditioned to be different to others.

Anna’s mother felt embarrassed. She apologised profusely, and immediately taught Anna a lesson. The mother explained: “It’s wrong to say things like that.”

Seconds feel like minutes. This moment will forever be ingrained within Anna’s memory. She was left feeling perplexed and confused, but she only accepted it as right. Our parents are always right.

We’re now able to see how this forms part of our programming causing a divide and separation within our upbringing, showing how different we are from others. It paints a picture of how we are taught to erect walls and to block our emotions so we no longer feel comfortable expressing ourselves freely.

Children’s intentions are pure for the most part and they don’t discriminate.

This was one of many lessons that were added to the list of Do’s and Don’ts in Anna’s life which will affect her future.

Why is it wrong to use certain colours, and associate people with that colour? There is definitely something to think about.

Some may say it’s complicated, but it’s only us who make it so. Why should colour separate us? We enjoy the beauty of a manifested rainbow, and we associate with each colour differently. And so we should also celebrate the beauty of individuality as well as whom we are collectively.

The given example will only offend you when you feel a conflict towards that statement due to something that has happened in the past that affected you emotionally or physically. Often this is the result of unhealed trauma of past events; such as this one.

When one truly awakens, it’s as if you become a new person, and you are seeing the light for the first time. You will step into a new awareness with each realisation. Your entire mind-set will change and you will indeed become enlightened in the truest sense.

Only then will you will see how many are still sleepwalking through life: no longer challenging their mind, their thought patterns, behaviours, or asking the question ‘why?’ Alternatively, the better question is how can I better understand the ‘why’?

This true story, although it seems extreme, is a perfect example of how we need to heal the past and change the future.

Article by Chrysilla Lewies