The Dharavi slum of Mumbai is one of the largest slums in the world, it is a multi-cultural and multi-religious home for more that 1 million residents whom live in an area that is no bigger that 1 square mile. Today, I had the opportunity to visit  the Dharavi area where I spent a few hours walking through the streets to learn about life in the slum.

From my time, I learned a valuable lesson on perspective which I would like to share. Perspective is a particular attitude towards or way of regarding something. Also known as a “point of view”.

First, we may consider the definition of a slum in “negative” term, to the Indian this is not necessarily the case. To the residents of Dharavi, the slum is “home“. During my visit I walked through countless isles of houses, businesses, markets and schools. The Dharavi has a bustling economy which supports the many families and people groups there. I met many wonderfully amazing people in the Dharavi slum, each who desire to live a good and honest life. I was struck by the friendliness and hospitable demeanor of the people living in the Dharavi slum.

Second, I have learned that while we may define things in different ways, such as what is “home”, it is important to always keep an open mind. The Dharavi slum was not by my definition a “home”. I learned that not only do we need to be able to empathize with others, but we need to keep an open mind to listen and often times learn valuable information that our perspective may be lacking. Before visiting the Dharavi today, I may have assumed that everyone living there was either a criminal or in destitute (there is indeed both present here). However, today I learned there are really good people living life the best way they know how in the Dharavi slum.

Remember — There are things we know, and things we don’t know. There are also things we don’t know that we don’t know, and also things that we think we know, that just aren’t true. Keep an open mind, keep asking questions, suspend immediate judgment, and keep changing the way you look at situations. Keep a fresh perspective.