Diversity Is a Strength — And Yesterday Proved It

Diversity Is a Strength — And Yesterday Proved It

I saw this on the United Nations Facebook page today:

“Diversity is a strength, not a threat.
Racism, discrimination, and xenophobia harm us all…
Let’s uphold tolerance, respect for diversity, and understanding — values that unite us and make us stronger.”

Normally, I’d read something like that and nod thoughtfully.
But today, it landed in a very real way, because yesterday I lived a tiny, chaotic, exhausting example of exactly what they’re talking about.

A Craft Fair as a Microcosm of the World

Yesterday felt like one of those social marathons that drains you in ways only introverts understand. I saw a meme this morning — a crow telling a woman she looks exhausted, and she replies, “I’ve been socializing.”
That was me. Completely me.

But somehow, inside that Indian restaurant room filled with crafts, chatter, spices, and music, the whole concept of “diversity” stopped being an abstract idea and became something real, human, messy, and beautiful.

There were:

• Christians
• Jews
• Families from Colombia
• Immigrants with stories mirroring mine
• Someone whose family came from Saskatchewan
• Kids
• Elders
• Loud personalities
• Quiet, shy creatives
• People just browsing
• People looking for connection

All squeezed into one small room, trying to support local artists and enjoy a Sunday afternoon.

And despite the awkward moments, the noise, the overwhelm… it worked.
We coexisted. We talked. We connected.

Life’s Little Stress Test

The day didn’t start beautifully, either.

Wrong bus stop.
Heavy bags.
Walking too far.
Arriving late.
And then discovering my table was actually a booth — a bizarre setup I had to figure out on the fly.

But as the day unfolded, it became a tiny example of what the UN is talking about:

When people with different backgrounds come into the same space with openness, things somehow hold together.
We get through the awkwardness.
We learn from each other.
We make space — even in small ways.

Diversity Isn’t Just a Slogan — It’s Lived

We hear that “diversity is a strength” so often that it starts sounding like branding.

But yesterday reminded me that diversity is not a concept — it’s a feeling.

It’s:

• hearing Indian music while setting up your crafts
• chatting with a Colombian family who smiles with their whole heart
• meeting someone who shares a piece of your personal history
• understanding that different religions, different accents, and different stories all blend together in a single community room
• watching strangers treat each other with curiosity instead of fear

And yes — it’s also being completely socially exhausted afterward, because humans are overwhelming, but we still need each other.

The UN’s Message Hits Home

On International Day for Tolerance — and really, every day — the UN calls for us to challenge misinformation, support people targeted by hate, and stand up for each other online and offline.

Yesterday showed me why that matters.

Because a world made of only one kind of person would be unbearably dull, lonely, and stunted.

It’s our differences that make communities interesting, textured, resilient, and full of possibility.

And sometimes you don’t have to look at global headlines to see that.
Sometimes you just have to look around a craft fair table in a bustling restaurant.