He is Different Than Me, So...

“To step out of our familiar world means to face the unknown, a world foreign to us. The unknown is also our subconscious.”

Irene Schiff

Who is different? Someone who doesn't think as you do, who has a disability, who comes from another country, who succeeds in finding a new solution to an old problem... To step out of the world we know means to face the unknown, a new world foreign to us. The unknown is also our subconscious (literally un-conscious, not known). Here is a person, different than we are, who somehow casts a new light on our own insecurities, bringing about new or old fears, or anxiety we preferred to ignore.
Today we live in a society where differences are more and more frequent, and easier to amalgate. Some time ago (not so long ago) persons with disabilities were condamned to disregard and solitude. Today things have improved (at least a little), and it is more frequent to have persons with disabilities as school companions and work colleagues, even if there is still a long road ahead. The major obstacle remains in us: in our mentality. Difference may scare us because we may not understand how to act and communicate. We may therefore experience difficulties in establishing a relationship: he may speak a language we don't know; he may read by running his fingers on strange dots; he may get around using a wheelchair instead of his feet. Difference can be cumbersome or create aggressiveness because we feel obliged to extend our arm to guide someone in the street, or to face the initial discomfort when installing a special elevator, which eventually becomes useful to everyone. Or on the contrary, we may have with difference an approach which is open and free of prejudice. There are seven musical notes and it is only up to us to either produce disturbing noise, or create beautiful melodies.

1) At night
a) you suffer from insomnia
b) you sleep like a log
c) sometimes you wake up

2) In your son's class, there is a new student with a disability. You think
a) we hope they become friends
b) we hope they won't spend time together
c) who knows what will happen

3) You take medicine for your headache
a) only when you really don't feel well
b) at the first symptom of discomfort
c) to prevent discomfort

4) You are in the middle of a large crowd
a) you are scared
b) you have a pleasant feeling
c) you remain indifferent

5) Your career is detrimental to your friend. You think
a) these things happen
b) he won't want to be my friend anymore
c) I won

6) In a trip to India, they want you to be to coiled up by a snake
a) you refuse imploringly
b) you rapidly leave
c) you accept and laugh

7) While playing policemen and robbers you prefer the role of
a) referee
b) policeman
c) robber

8) In a trip in a foreign country you like
a) to have all commodities
b) to know the actual conditions of the country
c) you don't like travelling in foreign countries

9) Someone proposes to play a society game. You prefer
a) that those who know the game play it
b) that everyone plays the game
c) it doesn't matter who plays, the important thing is to play

10) To have some extra weight
a) is not so important if it is not harmful for the health
b) sometimes it happens
c) you absolutely will not accept it

11) At a party some people are whispering. You think
a) I wonder what they are talking about
b) they are commenting on the other guests
c) they are speaking negatively about me

12) If you had to speak in public
a) you would like it
b) you would be terrorized
c) you would prepare your paper properly

13) You have mail; those news
a) are good ones
b) are bad ones
c) you don't know

14) You are home and there is a storm outside. You think
a) how strong nature is
b) the lightening will hit me
c) I'd like to be outside to really experience it 

15) What saying do you prefer
a) carpe diem - seize the day
b) take a wife and oxen from your own parts
c) a bird in hand is worth two in the bush

POINTS

Question	A	B	C
1)	3	2	1
2)	2	3	1
3)	2	3	1
4)	1	3	2
5)	2	1	3
6)	3	1	2
7)	2	1	3
8)	1	2	3
9)	1	2	3
10)	2	1	3
11)	1	2	3
12)	3	1	2
13)	2	3	1
14)	3	1	2
15)	3	1	2

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPLANATION

FROM 45 TO 35 POINTS: 
HOSTILITY
Every situation which differs from the ordinary is for you a source of annoyance and anger. Try to have more trust in others and in yourself. Who said difference means negativity? 

FROM 34 TO 26 POINTS:
OPENESS
You don't lack spirit of adventure and even if you are no Christopher Columbus, you have the curiosity to learn what is hiding in the corner. You don't think that there is constance in things; there exist people who are good and others who are not.

FROM 25 TO 15 POINTS:
FEAR
You fear that everything is to explode, that everyone is potentially a menace, in particular those you don't know. What if you tried to be the one to smile and to reach out? You could have pleasant surprises!