With all that’s going on, I talked to Acupuncturist Joel today and offered this space as a platform to speak. I don’t actually know if Joel is black. Joel’s ethnicity, and everybody’s ethnicity is not my business unless they want it to be. I think most Americans are mixed with all the colors of the rainbow, myself included. But I told him as someone with super pale skin I probably shouldn’t be the one to talk about this. He said, actually, you are exactly who should talk about it. So here is the thing. I have always been careful to keep politics and religion and race out of any discussion I have at my clinic. I didn’t even think about Joel’s race when I hired him. I have no idea if he is black or not. It really doesn’t matter. It matters that he has a beautiful heart and is an amazing acupuncturist. But it did not escape my notice that when he started working just before the pandemic, we started getting some black patients and also more male patients because they said they felt comfortable with him. It makes me aware as a clinic owner that it’s important to hire different people so that more people of different types feel comfortable and safe getting acupuncture. And the fact that it happens also means I have some work to do and that they did not yet feel comfortable and safe. I want this clinic to be full of rainbows of every ethnicity and orientation. I want everyone to feel welcome as a human being. But I’m also a person who has led a life chock full of white privilege. I cannot imagine what it’s like to not be able to walk down the street with your dog safely because of the color of your skin. But I do know I want to see that change. I am truly thankful Joel is here to make more people feel comfortable and safe that didn’t feel that way before. And if that’s you, please know we are reopening June 3 and Joel is here, and everyone of every color is welcome. We choose the rainbow. . #wechoosetherainbow #acunirvana #justiceforgeorgefloyd #georgefloyd #518rainbowhunt🌈 #518rainbowhunt #newyork #newyorker #chooselove #speakupspeakout #upstateny #upstatenewyork #acupunctureclinic #acupuncture #acupuncturelife #lakegeorgeny #glensfallsny https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3La83nIYD/?igshid=nhgi9uxqwols