Choosing Our Tribes

There are so many tribes to be part of it boggles my mind. Tribes influence us. Tribes have a way of "getting into" us while all the while we think we are getting into them! In fact tribes get "into us" the very minute we hear their pitch. And by pitch I mean tone of voice, their kind of music, facial expressions, color and style of clothing, home furnishings, toys.... All these things influence our choices of who we like, what we want to spend our mental energy on, our physical energy on, our time on and our money on. Adolescence is the time when we tribal choices become most volatile. Meaning our feelings about the world and our place in it are so intense at that age. And because of the impact that our feelings have upon us our entire future is influenced.Do we dislike certain aspects of own family (our first "tribe")? Our own culture? The neighborhood we came from? Other ethnic groups? People of various religions? Or non-religious people? Our gay classmates? Our non-gay classmates? People who are blind, or non-blind? Deaf or non-deaf?  If we could just get over some of the deep adolescent feelings (perhaps buried, hidden) that we harbor  regarding various people or the quirky characteristics of other people I think our lives would be incredibly different. It's downright impossible to start out adult life with a clean slate regarding how our past impacts our social choices, work choices, sexual activity, music, food, clothing and spending choices. I think it's important to explore our choices and our reactions to various people and situations before settling into any one style or group, close friends or sexual partner. That's why adolescence is such a spectacular, glorious, exciting time! The whole world is open to so many of us! Granted, there are many young people who do not have much choice in these matters, but the path I have blazed for myself has led me to people who do have choices, and the rest I support through tithing and offerings.I wasn't always comfortable with the fact that I couldn't snatch people out of abject poverty, complicated family abuse or addiction situations, severe physical, emotional and mental challenges; but because of the various "therapeutic tribes" that I sought to explore, I was able to design a way of operating in my life that makes sense to me and makes me feel good about what I do with my love, my time and my money.