It's Just me, V

Everyone has an opinion. There I said it. Whether it’s about eating right, training, raising kids, where to live, politics, death or life in general everyone is different.

“Every person has a different view of another person’s image. That’s all perception. The character of a man, the integrity, that’s who you are.” ~ Steve Alford

We all have this amazing platform to share our views of anything in the world, until someone takes offense to what is said. One person’s opinion isn’t always right nor is an others always wrong. It has taken me a very long time to come to terms with just keeping tight lipped and walk away when things get heated. I don’t need to voice my outrage and publicly bash people by name and location. We all started in similar places – we all entered the world the same way, and we all bleed the same color. While yes, I practice tolerance for many things, if I have a strong disagreement it is my opinion and stays within my head and heart alone. I will listen to the other persons side and take it as what they perceive to be while trying to be respectful. I am not trying to be preachy, I have seen so many “friends” openly bashing each other and people that they don’t even know on so many public forums. There is this mask that we all wear on these public forums that we think protects us from everything that come out of our mouths (or fingertips). Just because you can’t see the person behind the screen, doesn’t mean that what you say is’t hurtful.

Remember the Golden Rule? What ever happened to people just being kind to each other? You don’t have to agree with everyone, just be kind. It’s funny to me that the same person that can openly bash another can then turn and say things that make them seem so kind at the next minute. So that means we can be mean to anyone not in our own circle then bless the few that are on our friends list? It is not some unwritten law that we have to “like” everyone or their opinions and actions. It is however our choice as humans that share this planet with to chose how we react to others. How would you feel in a certain circumstance? Would you say things to a person if you weren’t covered by the anonymity of the internet?

empathy noun
em·​pa·​thy | \ ˈem-pə-thē \
Definition of empathy
1 : the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner
also : the capacity for this ~Merriam-Webster

I really do try to learn from others. While I can be “old fashioned” and “set in my ways” I do try. If something works for me, it may not work for you. If I value something, you may not. That, my friends, makes us each an individual. That is what makes each and every one of us special, and that is what makes every single one of us beautiful. Can you imagine how boring the world would be if everyone was the same? Same size, same shape, same color, same religion, same thoughts? We would not have made any progress since the stone age! I’m sure that the person who invented the wheel was told that he was crazy, and that it wouldn’t work. But look, that person wasn’t deterred, and it worked! Look at all of the different types of wheels we have now! Because people have seen how important that first one was and have improved and changed and grown from the experiences of those before us!

There is no reason for anyone to change to gain the acceptance of another. I understand evolving, we all are evolving every day and is what makes us all exquisite.

“The differences between friends cannot but reinforce their friendship.” ~ Mao Zedong

I have a challenge for everyone: At some point today, tomorrow, or in the coming weeks, say or do something nice for someone you don’t know with out expecting anything in return. It doesn’t need to be anything huge either, it can be paying for the coffee of the person behind you in line or telling someone that you like their shoes. We can all make this world a better place for each other and ourselves with just a bit of kindness. It doesn’t change your view, it won’t change your values, but it certainly would be nice to see people lifting people up instead of being hurtful and factitious.

Take care, be respectful and be kind. That is the start to changing the world.