A Story That Shaped Me When I was a little girl, my father wrote a book. Not an ordinary book—it was never published—but it profoundly shaped who I am. This little book was created as a “flip chart book,” the PowerPoint of the 1960s. Using real scissors and paste, he carefully cut out images and …
A Story That Shaped Me
When I was a little girl, my father wrote a book. Not an ordinary book—it was never published—but it profoundly shaped who I am.
This little book was created as a “flip chart book,” the PowerPoint of the 1960s. Using real scissors and paste, he carefully cut out images and words, assembling it for use in church school.
It told the story of a little girl.
She loved all the things little girls love.“I love to go to parties. I love to play dress ups. I love to sing.”Page after page, her joy came to life. But then came the question:
“But why do some people hate me?”
As a little girl reading it, I was captivated. She was just like me—just like my sister, my brothers. The final page revealed a single image I’ll never forget: a little Aboriginal girl.
Just like me.
A Lifelong Echo
That question—“Why do some people hate me?”—has echoed through my life, always reminding me that so-called “opposites” are often the same. That beneath the surface, we share the same longings.
We all want to belong.
We all want to live in freedom.
We all want to contribute something meaningful.
We all need love.
It’s Not Just Their Fight
When I hear stories—like that of a Black man in the U.S. dying publicly, abused simply for the colour of his skin—my heart bleeds.
And I’ve come to understand something: It’s not the sole responsibility of the oppressed to fight for justice.
It’s ours—those of us with privilege—to change the system. We can’t just stand behind them and say, “How awful. This must stop.”
We must stand in front of them and declare,
“We will not accept this.”
We must be protectors, not just allies.We must create communities where everyone feels safe, valued, and at home.Only then can we begin to heal.
Why Chocolate and Coffee?
The story of prejudice is not mine. I’ve never been the victim. But just because it’s not my story doesn’t mean it’s not my fight.
That’s why I’m passionate about Chocolate and Coffee Breaks.Because when we sit together in a spirit of love and acceptance,we begin to break down the barriers that divide us.
Brew the Change
Take a moment today. Reflect on how you feel called to make a difference.
Because you can.Reaching out to just one person changes the world. If we all did that?We’d build the kind of world we long for.
So share a chocolate. Pour a cuppa.
Enjoy a conversation.
And change the world—one break at a time.
Get in Touch with Us
We’d love to hear from you—share your thoughts or ask a question!
