If anything was possible

I am a caucasian male.  Slender build, slightly balding (slightly=badly in this case), with brown hair and brown eyes.  I don't have any disabilities or health problems.  I grew up the youngest in a middle class family of 8 children and 2 parents that have been happily married for decades. I have great siblings who have provided me with great examples of what to do and what not to do in life.  I have received a good education and been taught a good work ethic which have enabled me to make a comfortable living.  I was raised in the LDS church with what many would consider some strict yet admirable guidelines.  I have never had any criminal or otherwise legal issues.  I'm a pretty lucky guy right?  Not so much.

Let me move on before this starts sounding too much like a dating profile (though I am single ;)).  I think a lot about my life and the experiences that I have had, but I can't help but think about the question of "What if?".  What if I was born in a different family?  In a different decade?  With a different skin color?  With a different gender?  How different would my life be?

If anything was possible I would like to spend a year of my life seeing it through a different person's body each day.  I think it would be truly fascinating.  What does it feel like to be a female in a male dominated society?  What does it feel like to be of another race constantly fighting stereotypes and prejudice?  What does it feel like to be a homosexual man or woman having to fight for basic equality? What does it feel like to be confined to a wheelchair for the rest of your life?  People can describe these feelings to you but I don't believe it is possible to truly understand unless you walk in those shoes.

I served an LDS mission at the age of 19 with grand hopes of helping to change the world.  Though I helped many people during this time, I realized the person that benefited the most was myself.  I was forced out of my comfort zone and placed in situations where I was in contact with people from all walks of life.  This experience has helped open my eyes and make me a more understanding tolerant person.

My life has been great up to this point and I am grateful, but that isn't luck.  Those who can best understand, tolerate, be compassionate towards and in some instances forgiving of other life situations are the ones who are truly lucky.