How to accept others
Lisa stood by the fence and looked at the boy sitting alone on the bench. He had moved three days ago—she had seen them carrying boxes. His name was Amil. He was sitting there, twirling a yellow leaf in his hands, not looking at the other children.
"Lisa, come to us!" Darina called from the sandbox. "We're playing 'The Sea is Restless'!"
“Why isn’t he playing?” Lisa asked, nodding at Amil.
"He's strange," Daryna replied. "And he doesn't talk like that.".
"The name is kind of incomprehensible," Pavlyk added and ran on.
Amil turned away and looked at the yellow sheet. Something pricked Lisa in the chest. She didn't go to the sandbox. She walked around the children, reached the slide and sat down on the step.
Two small figures moved on the railing of the slide. An owl with glasses and a squirrel with an acorn looked at Lisa—and at Amil.
“Are you uncomfortable?” Sofiyka asked quietly.
"It's not fair," Lisa replied. "He didn't do anything to anyone.".
🦉 Lesson from Sofiyka
1. «Different» does not mean «worse»
Every person is like their own special leaf on a tree. Some are big and green, some are small and yellow with a pink edge. No one is better or worse—just different. When we see someone we don't know who speaks differently, has a different name, or looks different, it just means they're from a different corner of the big tree. Not strange. Different. And that's interesting.
2. Laughing at someone's name hurts.
A name is the first thing a person hears in their life. Parents choose it with love. When someone makes fun of your name, it's like touching something very personal and fragile. Amil is a beautiful name. It's just from another language, from another country.
"I wish my name meant something," Solomiyka said thoughtfully, and twirled the acorn. "Oh, but mine does mean something! 'Peace and tranquility.' Not bad, right?"
3. Being «like everyone else» is not always right
Sometimes it seems: if everyone is doing it, then it must be so. But this is a trap. If everyone is not paying attention to the lonely boy, is it right? Absolutely not. Good is not what everyone does. Good is what remains as a quiet warmth in your chest when you go to bed at night.
4. Being the first to approach is what courage is all about.
It's scary to approach someone new. What if he doesn't want to talk? What if it's uncomfortable? But think about it: he's even scarier. He's in someone else's yard, among unfamiliar children, and he doesn't even know if he can stay here. When someone comes up first and says "hello" — it's a small miracle. Because it opens the door.
"I'm always the first to run up!" Solomiyka exclaimed cheerfully. "Well, almost always. Once I ran up to the hedgehog and got a little scared. But that's another story.".
5. Ask and you will learn something new
Instead of thinking, «He’s not saying it right,» you can ask, «How do you say it in your own language?» And suddenly it turns out that the word «hello» sounds different in different languages: «salaam,» «merhaba,» «hai,» «chao.» It’s fascinating! Every person is like a little book about a different world. You just have to open the first page.
6. One child can change everything
It may seem: «I’m small. What can I do?» But in reality, there are so many things. If you approach Amil, someone else may approach him tomorrow. Then more. One good deed is like a pebble thrown into the water — the circles diverge far and wide. You can be that first pebble.
Lisa stood up and went to Amil. He raised his head—carefully, as if he didn’t want to spoil the moment.
— Hello. I'm Lisa.
“Amil,” he replied.
"I know. It's a nice name," she said simply.
He was even more surprised. And for the first time in three days, he smiled a little.
"Are you playing 'The Sea is Restless'?" Lisa asked. "I'll show you.".
She held out her hand. He took it. They went to the children together. Daria looked, but said nothing. Amil quickly understood the rules. When he froze in the funniest pose, everyone laughed. Together, warmly.
Sofiyka believes in you. And Solomiyka too. 🦉🐿️