Prejudice ... and A Break

Prejudice, it's an interesting word. The dictionary definition reads thus:

prej·u·dice (prj-ds)n.

1.a. An adverse judgement or opinion formed beforehand or without knowledge or examination of the facts. b. A preconceived preference or idea.

2. The act or state of holding unreasonable preconceived judgements or convictions.

3. Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.

4. Detriment or injury caused to a person by the preconceived, unfavorable conviction of another or others.

Have you, dear reader, encountered prejudice in your life? I've been very lucky; up until recently I don't think I've encountered much personal prejudice at all. I guess that's mostly because I'm living in a society in which I haven't been amongst the minority? I live in Britain, which, whilst a multi-cultural nation, no doubt has white British Christians as the majority of its population. I wouldn't call myself a 'regular' Christian but I am white and I was born and bred here, so I've qualified as a member of 'the majority' for most of my life. Even when I was very ill in my 20s, I didn't feel I was on the end of preducial behaviour or attitudes; or maybe I was just too ill to worry about it?

I don't think I'm a prejudiced person myself. I have actively attempted to not be. When I was younger I decided I didn't like the judgemental aspect of my personality, so I took a conscious decision to stop being judgemental of other people, if at all possible. It really was as simple as that - I decided to stop judging others and to just let them be. As long as whatever they did didn't hurt others (or me), and didn't break the law, I tried my hardest to let it go. It was quite liberating once I'd created my new habit of not getting so wound up about what other people said or did.

Lately, however, I have found myself on the receiving end of prejudice - and it's not nice. There is absolutely nothing I can do about it, so must just accept it. People, without knowing me or anything about my circumstances have judged me (and not afforded me the same consideration as others) based purely on my 'label' rather than on who and what I, as a person, actually am. Perhaps I'm too open with 'the facts'? Perhaps I should just lie and pretend to be something other than I am, but I've never been particularly successful at the art of deceit and don't see why I should start practising it now.

You're probably wondering what the hell I'm wittering on about. A brief summary is that the smalls and I have to leave our home. We haven't defaulted on payments, or done anything wrong, but I have no recourse other than to go. I've been here for more than 11 years, it's the only home my kids have ever known; but we have to leave, and we haven't been given very much notice either. I am currently running around like a headless chicken trying to find somewhere else for us to live but 'single mother' does not go down well with landlords. 'Single mother in receipt of state benefits' goes down even less well. I'm finding people are perfectly nice to me until they hear the 'b' word - at which point their smile turns to a sneer and their previous warmth vanishes quicker than a ferret up a trouser leg. The 'income' I currently receive doesn't even cover our basic bills let alone housing costs, so I have no choice other than to ask the State for help.

Anyway, this and other 'stuff' that's happening in my life at the moment, especially coming amidst all the legal doings, has left me feeling knackered and somewhat despondent. I feel I have to devote what's left of my energies to trying to sort it all out, and to that end I'm going to take a break from my Bloggy Bits. I don't know for how long, but I absolutely will be back when the kids and I have found somewhere to live, or at least to stay; if and when the poota gets set up, and I feel a bit more like 'me' than I do just now. I will endeavour to still visit the blogs I love to read, but I won't be writing posts here until things are more ok than they are at the moment. Hopefully that won't be too long. For those of you who've asked me to make a monkey: I will, if at all possible, still be making - so will be in touch.

Until then ... be good; and if you can't be good, be careful ;-)

See you later alligator.

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