Have you ever said something out loud and then instantly regretted it, because you are immediately met by a harsh response. Instantly shot down and treated like you’re a total asshole because you simply don’t know something. Or simply were just stating something or asking a question…

What I wanna know is…

What gives another person the right to tell you…

What you like?

Who to like?

What to find interesting?

What to do?

or most importantly

What to feel?

I’ve always been someone who tries to see things from all sides. Don’t get me wrong, I have a very strong set of morals and values, and I can be stubborn when defending them. But when faced with something I try to put myself in the other person’s shoes too. And it’s amazing to me how some people can be so narrow minded, and just think of themselves, or just think the world is simply black and white. Because I’ll tell ya something. The sooner you come to terms with the fact that the world is a whole mess of grey that can turn to color in all different hues and shades, you’ll be able to be much more accepting of the things that don’t fit in your predetermined little categories.

When you attack someone’s character…you are perfect right?

I mean how else can you judge?

Quick newsflash…no one is perfect. 

You’ve heard this before.

Believe it.

Learn it, Live it, Love it.

So in the age old saying; If you don’t have anything nice to say just don’t say anything at all.

The snide comments

the judgmental faces

no one deserves any of it

no one deserves to be criticized as a person

Everyone has their own problems.

This life isn’t easy. We all feel the pressures of life’s obstacles. You never know what kind of inner battle someone is facing. You never know what may be going on in their personal lives.

I always try to treat people the way I’d like to be treated. The golden rule people. And granted I fall short of it sometimes too, after all I am human.

But that golden rule is a concept to keep in mind. It isn’t hard to grasp. So have compassion the next time you feel the urge to use your voice in a negative way.

Opinions are our own, and we are entitled to them. We all are.

Sharing those opinions can be a great cause for informative conversation, it can lead to bonding or to debate. Either way it can be both a learning process, when opinions are cared for and understood. You don’t have to always agree, but you can always choose to be respectful.

But criticism can come in many forms…harsh or constructive…make sure yours is the latter.

The older I get, the more I realize that everyone is different.

And that’s ok.

The way you are, the opinions you have, the things you like, how you treat people, may be different from how other people live and different from how they will treat you and others. The way you do things and how you handle things will be different then many people you come into contact with throughout your life.

But kindness…

and the act of being kind is universal.

It doesn’t take much, and doesn’t cost a thing.

So the next time you feel the burdens of an unkindness, stand up for yourself, and be vocal. Just because you are a kind, compassionate person, doesn’t mean you deserve to be used as a doormat, and walked all over. If that person doesn’t get it, it’s on them. You can only do so much, at the end of the day, you know you are a good person, trying to do the best you can, that’s all you can control. What other people do and how they act, and the negativity they throw out, is not yours to fix. Know your limits, and trust yourself. Follow your heart, it’ll guide you.

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