There’s a jogging and bike trail (that crosses a six-lane, busy street) on my way to/from my kids’ school. The city recently added a mid-block crosswalk with a button for pedestrians to push if they want to cross (that activates traffic lights for motorists).
And last Wednesday, a biker went across without pushing the button. Luckily, I saw that he was coming ahead of time and slowed down.
Instead of being contrite (or even a little bit thankful that I'd seen him), the guy flipped me the bird. Perhaps he thought I was too close to the crosswalk?
All I could think about was. . . how representative it was in respect of where we are right now as a society.
There’s a lot of – for lack of a better word – hypocrisy these days.
We lament how our President acts on Twitter. . . while calling out others (loudly and rudely) on Facebook for differing viewpoints.
We point out hypocrisy of the ‘other side’. . . and make excuses for our own side’s improper behavior because the ends justify the means.
I’m amazed at the number of people who seem to believe that things will magically change once the US Presidential election is over (sorry, not going to happen. . . no matter who wins).
What everyone seems to be missing is that our leaders reflect our society.
Yes, this all sounds depressing (truly sorry about that). And I know that my newsletter is usually about more uplifting stuff. But this needed to be said because. . .
Change starts within YOU, Friend, by: - Seeking to understand and accept those with opposing opinions.
- Being kind to those who disagree with you.
- Holding those you agree with to high standards (instead of making excuses for them just because they’re on the ‘right’ side of the issues).
And remember that your reality isn’t everyone else’s reality.
We all have our own internal biases – based on past experiences. Your beliefs are shaped through your experiences.
For example, growing up watching my mother drink herself almost to death while being beaten regularly by the men she dated made me feel trapped. As a result, one of my core values is FREEDOM. If there’s ever a conflict between freedom and fairness, freedom wins every time (which has caused others to call me selfish and uncaring).
Instead of judging others based on YOUR experiences, seek to understand where they’re coming from. This will open a wide door to greater compassion and acceptance. It’s the first step to changing society for the better.
I know what I’m asking of you is hard – because often it’s not reciprocated.
Listening to a relative who won’t listen to you and being accepting of a friend’s opinion (who isn’t so accepting of yours) isn’t easy.
Having character isn’t about what’s easy. It’s about what’s right (and it’s the ONLY way to start changing our world for the better).
And SOMEONE must take the first step. [So why not you & me?]
XO,
Heather
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