Embrace GRAYce

I shared my first kind of opinion piece on a kind of controversial topic last week on a *gasp* professional social media site.

Ego aside, I was scared to post my kind of opinion. Why? You’ll hear how my brain works later.

What resulted from the post? Did the local news source frame me well in the scandalous expose?

More likely, the 5 friends that I forced to read the post “liked” it. Thanks friends. Love you guys tooooooo.

All kidding aside, my post created the opportunity to have real conversations with people, all of which had differing and insightful perspectives.

Two of those conversations happened in person… with eye contact.. and no bad connection to blame for the dropped call.

I made it out alive…… and ready to embrace more gray.

The conversations inspired me to start a blog called “Embrace GRAYce”.

PART 1

I’m a 37 year old troublemaker. Ignore my profession for a second.

For those of you who I intentionally offend, I’m sorry, sometimes the truth hurts and that is what I lovingly refer to as a “you” problem. We can chat after you’re less reactive and more responsive. Deep breaths. This too shall pass. I hope my therapy words aren’t too triggering.

For those of you who I unintentionally offend, that is [as the word unintentionally implies] not my intention. A “Me” problem. Talk to me about it or I can’t fix it. I’m open minded, willing and able to change! So long as your facts support it…

I am passionate about learning about other people’s life experiences. I love that we can learn so much by stepping out of our own shoes and view the world in a different light by seeing it from someone else’s life story.

I’m a white girl who was born in a white bubble. I took a lot for granted. Still do. I’m not perfect. I’m curious. I’m also naïve in many respects. I’m too smart for my own good.. some may even say I’m a troublemaker.

White girl + Prosecutor = Troublemaker

Insert nervous laughter.

Guess that depends on your perception of me 😉

The world and even our immediate communities are incredibly beautiful and diverse places. The rainbows of different life experiences, even within our own immediate neighborhoods, are a true spectrum of colors. Life experience isn’t black and white. When will we learn to embrace gray and get away from a one size fits all approach?

If you’re still here, I promise this comes full circle….. Humans are obsessed with immediate dopamine fixes with things like tik tok….. Maybe I’ll be cool one day.. hopefully before the government ban. Did I say too much?

Unfortunate for you, I’m not known for my brevity in writing as I have been misunderstood for most of my life due to my neurodivergent brain. Fortunate for you, because of that, I’ll go to the ends of the earth trying to understand you, if you are open to being understood. I’m a lawyer by trade who probably should have been a social worker. You’re starting to see why this is a blog…

My brain doesn’t allow me to accept things as black and white. I am just now learning to embrace the gray in life. I was the young kid who enjoyed asking my neighbor “Why” in perpetuity until he’d break after an hour to use the bathroom. Im surprised he didn’t move because I did this many, many times…. a day.

In a bigger picture, I can see why some may perceive that behavior as one of a troublemaker. I call it critical thinking.

Based on my own life experience, I fell in love with the concept behind Problem Solving Courts i.e. Drug Court, Mental Health Court and Veterans Court. Hug a thug court. Happy Clappy Court. Kumbaya Kourt.

I embraced the proverbial gray of the justice system.

I became interested with the research behind and public perception of Problem Solving Courts. The “Why”.

**Side note — My favorite question in fact finding is “But, why?”….. you have to say it ditzy with aloofness or it sounds abrasive…. discovered this phenomenon through years of dedicated research in a white male dominated profession.

The white male species, generally speaking, have large egos & do NOT like being criticized, stalk your prey wisely as they are very delicate creatures. Especially the emotionally immature ones with unhealed childhood trauma 😬 talk about BIG feelings. We don’t have time for that!

Playing dumb was a brilliant tool to utilize in my 8.5 years of data collection and research in Old County.. and screenshots of course**

The general public and many in the justice system seem to quietly disapprove of Problem Solving Courts. If the research supports evolving the justice system to a model that addresses the underlying reason for criminality versus focusing on one action, one moment in time, then why are we so opposed?

What is your experience with problem solving courts? Have you heard of them? Do you have questions about the programs or research you don’t feel comfortable asking? Send me a message. Ask a question below. Start a conversation if you’re willing to have one. Or sit back and judge without asking. I’d rather you be curious, not afraid of voicing your opinion like little old me…

Maybe a more appropriate title for this blog is:

Real Life: I’m a 37 year old problem solver, who some may perceive as a troublemaker.

I can be both, perception is everything.

Hope the hypothetical people in my posts don’t name me as a par-tea in their lawsuits….

Enough about me… time for MADY: The Beautiful Girl We Couldn’t Save