As the second-week winds down, my theme was assumptions. During our fellowship meeting, many fellows mentioned how they expected to do specific assignments but ended up doing completely different things or running a program instead of being support. As Pride is celebrated this week, assumptions are often made about a person’s personal life. Lastly, spending time with the organization’s clients really got personal, and assumptions about their lives burst.

Sitting at the table at Milo-Grogan for the weekly arts and crafts meeting, we started talking about our personal lives and family. Family relations are hard and often hard to talk about. The assumption that everyone is connected and supportive is so far from the truth and if that were a nonprofit like At Home By High would not be needed. Getting them to open up took work. Still, when the trust was established, they were more open to discussing traumatizing events and distant or non-existing relationships with immediate family. Some distant relationships stemmed from family disputes that resulted in the termination of relationships. There was a lot of pain and trauma when talking about certain relationships or memories. The bright side is that they bond over similar life experiences and become each other’s chosen family. They support each other, check on each other, and fuss and fight with each other. The assumption that getting older includes family support, and a leisurely and active life is so far from the truth. Many of the aging population are socially isolated due to mobility issues, limited incomes, and lack of family connections for many different reasons.

As we celebrate pride, Juneteenth and continue on our journeys with our fellowships, we learn that assumptions about people, organizations, or family can hurt your growth and relationships. So be open listen, change, or new opportunities. Your life and relationship often flourish when you are not limiting your experiences and relationships.