Despite

Our worth comes from within. Not by the color of our hair, our eyes, or our skin.
The faults of our ancestors are not who we are. I am a torn soul of German and Polish descent, British and Native American … the choices of my ancestors should have ripped the idea of my existence into dissipating shreds of ether.
The people of my past are not me. But I can embrace my heritage and celebrate who it has created.
I will proudly stand up and say, despite adversity amongst peoples, despite hatred, war, greed, destruction, and death - I am here.

I choose love.
I choose peace.
I choose to give of myself to others.
I choose restoration and creation.
I choose life.

I am not a color.
I am not a place on a map.
I am not a religion.
I am not a style.
I am not a book or the words of another person.

Who I am and my worth?
The sum of -my- choices.