I’m beginning to hate absolutes when we all deserve a chance to tell another story about ourselves. For example ‘she has MS’ only defines one part of a multi-faceted, diverse histories person. Maybe we should think about expecting more from someone and not getting out a one covers everything stamp.

Last week I discovered yet again my tendency to share more information than is necessary. I started to speak but my husband put his fingers on my arm to stop me. All the receptionist wanted was my name, not my whole life story.

I do it all the time, saying more than I need to. Thinking about it, I just want people to see beyond my wheelchair or trike. I want people to see me

But am I seeing beyond my own assumptions to let the person in front of me be more? If they reduce me, what am I doing to them? So allow yourself to be surprised, even proven wrong. The world is made up of a kaleidoscope of people. It can’t be divided into black and white. If that’s all you can see then you are missing out.

I often turn on the app Merlin to identify the birds I can hear in the park. But a list of names doesn’t do justice to the clarity and beauty of their songs. Who are you and what joys are you withholding? The Bible tells us we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14) . Do you believe that about yourself, and those you rub shoulders with every day? I wonder what the world would look like if we started to give people room to be more than we have decided they are. As ever, expect to be pleasantly surprised, even contradicted. The world is a storehouse of colourful people. It’s up to us to see them, and enjoy being seen like that ourselves.