They look alike to me

Just try it. That’s all I ask.

The next time someone irritates the very devil out of you, pause for a moment and look for the ways that person is like you instead of focusing on all those differences that make you want to scream.

The next time someone looks like the root of all your problems — or society’s problems, because goodness knows society has a lot of problems and we sure do want to pin the blame somewhere — imagine for a moment that this person feels the same fear or anger or uncertainty you feel, just packaged differently.

The next time you want to look down on someone who clearly oughta know better or do better or be better,  just for a moment remember your own worst moment, a moment you wish you could take back, a time when you should’ve known better or done better or been better.  Maybe there’ll be an instant when it’s like looking in the mirror.

Just try it. Once today. Then once more tomorrow. Try it because it sounds sappy and simplistic but it is surprisingly hard and we all need to stretch ourselves at least once a day. Then try it once more. Who knows? Maybe it gets easier.

Changing how I think about other people may not sound like much, but it is the beginning of change. A change in my perceptions. A change in my own level of frustration with daily life. A change in how I interact with that one irritating-as-hell person. Sometimes, one thing changes everything.

Humor me. Just try it. Promise?

Photo courtesy of Mantos Ruzveltas

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