There are times we may be scared of things that are different, that might challenge our current state of reality or threaten to change it- so some make jokes
about what is different to ease our lack of comfort about it, or simply ignore it in an
attempt to make it go away. These actions can be damaging to those who receive
them and can hurt any chance a generation has of becoming a unified community
regardless of difference—together we stand, divided we fall.
This is where ‘putting yourself in another’s shoes’ becomes handy and our best
teacher. If one can at least try to understand another’s perspective about why they
feel the way they do about something, it could make it easier to accept what they
say or do. Another good rule of thumb is to not take what others do or say personally.
When one voices their opinion, we have to be careful to not judge what they say
based upon what we know, or what we think. To just be present as a nonjudgmental listener for someone, when they talk, is the key to building a world with
original thinkers in it.
Life is ever-changing for each and every
one of us. Choices are made, big and
small, memories are created, and experiences will come and go, all of which shape
and sculpt one’s outlook on life. We all
have a different history, a story that
makes us unique and every story has a
story teller who would like their audience
to be polite and kind
listeners—just to hold
the space for them so
they can evolve and
grow.
By Megan Praat