I sat in deep conversation with someone earlier this week about the concept of humility and what means to be humble.
Over the course of the day yesterday, a lot of questions and connections started percolating...
What's the etymology of the word humble, human and humanity?
What do they have in common?
How do the intersect?
Over the years, it's felt that humble has become a "dirty" word.
That it means "having low importance" and not having self worth, and if you look at the definition in a dictionary you'll find a lot of these types of references.
HOWEVER, the etymology of the word has its roots in the word "humus" meaning earth. To be grounded.
When I learned this yesterday I could literally feel the truth of that deep in my bones.
Humans come from the earth.
We also go "home" via the earth.
Humility comes from the connection with the earth. A reciprocity in honoring.
How many of us have been taught that humility meant to be self-less?
On the flipside, how many of us have been taught that humility isn't a value and doesn't get us anywhere?
Both harmful extreme ends of the spectrum.
AND
What if being humble and having humility is actually the antidote?
Being grounded enough to not bypass our own humanness.
And by not bypassing our own humanness that allows spaciousness and curiosity to honor another’s humanity.
I see my earth which allows me to see YOUR earth.
I am you and you are me.