1. Existing in a person or animal from birth; congenital; inborn
2. Being an essential part of the character of a person or thing
3. Instinctive; not learned: innate capacities.
4. Not established by conditioning or learning; “an unconditioned reflex
5. Being talented through inherited qualities; “a natural leader”; “a born musician”
6. Existing naturally or by heredity rather than being learned through experience:
7. Of or produced by the mind rather than learned through experience: an innate
knowledge of right and wrong.
I was listening to the most fascinating podcast of a woman of Arab decent born in Pittsburgh and raised in the 1960’s. She was drawn to the music of her ancestors and has carved out a fascinating life for herself working as a dancer as well as in the field researching music and culture. What I identified with was that she said that dancing to music is innate. It is not a trained dancer, it is not a choreography, you interpret and become one with the music. You bring it to life visually, and that is how I feel with everything I do.
Here is the link: https://kcrw.co/2vi6K2B
What really struck me was how much I identified with her experience as being treated as exotic in America, different than white. Although I was born in Moscow, I look exactly like my father who was born in Chechnya. I was always though of as exotic, and always in the other category, never Caucasian, which always amused me since my roots are from the Caucasus region. Fun video below about the roots of the word Caucasian.
I am a proud Jew.
I love all cultures and all people.
Know yourself.
Get to know others.
Shabbat Shalom,
Coach Yulia