Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.
-Mark Twain
I have seen hate, betrayal, abuse, judgement, and misunderstanding. Our world seems to be full of people shouting from inside their safe spaces at people who are different than them. Different colors, political beliefs, sexual orientations, and views on how they believe the world should be. We see shootings, riots, screaming debates, and hateful comments online. Sometimes I want to hide away from it all.
We are all human. We all want the same things. We want love, understanding, safety, security, and to express ourselves. All us humans are here navigating this crazy thing called life the very best way we know how. We are doing our best. We have different exposures, conditioning, and environments. We have been taught differently, we have different brain chemistry. We have varying traumas, educations, and life circumstances but we are all part of the human family.
I’m trying to see humans with grace. I try to see how they are like me. At times I find myself judging people. I see their selfishness, their anger, their ignorance. Then I remember; sometimes I am selfish, angry, and ignorant. I know those people I judge are also scared sometimes. They want love and companionship, they find joy, have favorite foods, and have friends and family, just like me.
We are more alike than different. Maybe realizing that can help us be a little kinder, a little more patient, and maybe spread a little more peace and civility in the world.