How far would you go to protect someone you love? In this episode, you'll hear the riveting tale of Elianna and her younger sister Janna on a night they'll never forget. Family roles are powerful and birth order can play a huge part in the way we experience life.  Add on other factors like religion and social dynamics and... it gets complicated. But there's nothing complicated about bravery. Especially when the ones you love most are in harm's way.

Show Notes:

Curious how birth order shapes your personality and life experience? There are varying views on this topic and here are  some of them: 

• SciShow Psych: Does Birth Order Affect Your Personality? — In this 6-minute video, you’ll learn about the birth order theory, and whether the stereotypes we give to older, middle, and youngest children actually hold up.
• Adlierian Overview of Birth Order Characteristics — Get an overview of Alfred Adler’s theories on how birth order may affect an individual’s personality in this simple chart.
• Birth Order May Not Shape Personality After All — This Washington Post article explains that the birth order theory is still very much a theory saying, “The possibility also remains that birth order influences personalities in children […] but those effects vanish when people become adults.”

As you heard from Elianna’s experience, many Muslim Americans face widespread religious discrimination. Here are some articles on this topic:

• How to Overcome Islamaphobia in Your Workplace — Learn about the many issues and stereotypes Muslims face in professional environments in this short Forbes article.
• U.S. School Principals Discriminate Against Muslims and Atheists, Our Study Finds — Did the 9/11 attack on U.S. soil lead to negative stereotypes and discrimination against Muslim Americans? According to this Washington Post article, the answer is yes.

Due to COVID times, Elianna and I met at a park to record this interview. I’m so honored that she chose to share her story with us. 

When I asked Elianna what she hoped people would take away from her story, she said, “If you see anyone in a rough situation, if you can help to offer help, to offer care to offer understanding, to offer love to offer kindness, because it can make a big difference.”

Remember — bravery is driven by love, not fear. I hope you choose to bravely love a stranger today.