I was sitting here listening in on tonight's book study and discussion, and listening to the topic of being antiracist and how we need to connect with people of color and put ourselves in someone else's shoes so we can understand and help change things. What I thought about was what it means to appreciate.

I think what I appreciate is the fact that I grew up in south Florida in the late 50's into the mid 60's. This was a time of wonderful adventures because I was growing up in a time before the area exploded with big development and major growth.

I am a cradle Episcopalian and I was taught at an early age to love everyone, to treat everyone with decency and respect at a time when immigration from multiple countries in the Caribbean, and especially Cuba and Central America, was about offering a better life for people seeking to be free from prosecution and poverty.

I learned at an early age to appreciate people's differences—both what I could learn from them and what I could teach them.

This was not easy in south Florida because of the bigotry and racism that existed there, but I was taught by my parents and the church to look at people as people and not at their color or a race. My father had a saying that has stuck with me all my life, "Treat people equally, and if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."

I have tried very hard to treat ALL people the same. I have tried very hard to not look at people by the color of their skin but by the quality of their character. At times, I have failed, but I truly appreciate what my parents taught me, and I appreciate the opportunity that was given me to grow up in a melting pot of cultures and to be able to respect, to the best of my ability, all people.

There are major issues we are dealing with in this country regarding racial equality, and other issues related to this, but if we can engage one another, no matter the color, we can try very hard to bring about needed change.