Every day on the news is a new report of people protesting, people killing, people discriminating. Everyone feels as if they aren't being appreciated in some way or another, but we are failing to see what's really going under appreciated. We've all become so selfish and entitled that we believe our purpose is more important than any one else's and its got to stop.
As I sat in the airport heading to my much needed spring break vacation, I enjoyed my blueberry muffin and coffee as I watch hundreds of people go by. Some just meandering around and some in that awkward fast walk- jog pace pushing past. Our plane had arrived and out ticketing agent began the boarding announcements. Hundreds of people were just hovering waiting for their seating group to be called. As they went through every group more people began crowding and cutting and making their way in front of many who had been standing there long before them.
Why do we feel like its so necessary to get on the plane before anyone else? Is my ticket more important then the person's next to me? Is my purpose to go on this trip more important than everyone else on the plane? I just don't understand how we can all push people aside believing that our purpose is more important than anyone else's.
It can be stupid little things like boarding a plane before someone else or something like believing your job is more important than your neighbors. It could be believing you're better than your co-worker because of what school you went to. It could be you're more important because you've travelled the world. What ever is in your head that makes you believe you are better than anyone else, listen to this.
You got to go to work and come home safely knowing that if anything were to go wrong, police officers would drop whatever they were doing to come save you. You didn't have to wake up and strap a gun to your waist wondering if today was the day you'd have to use it. Those men and women aren't worried about missing the big dead line or making the sale, they simply want to come home alive. They may not have gone to Harvard so does that make them less than you?
Same goes to the businessman worried about missing the big dead line. The police officer's ability to buy popcorn at Wal-Mart might be correlated to that deadline. Just because he's in the office and they're on the street risking their lives, does that make the businessman's purpose lesser than the police officers?
You woke up in a free world. You woke up with laws that protect your ability to dress, speak, sing, dance how ever you want. The "corrupt" congressmen and women made that possible. You lie, cheat and say things you regret. If they're doing something you've done, does that make them less than you?
Your ability to even read this article is thanks to a teacher. Besides knowing all your planets and how to write a research paper, teachers taught us about life and the rights and wrongs we didn't realize we were learning. So a kindergarten teacher might not find the cure for cancer or make as much as college professor, does that make them less than you?
As human beings, why can't we appreciate one another? It takes all walks of life to make the world go round. It takes every policeman, teacher, CEO, flight attendant, college student, 7 year old, athlete, artist, veterinarian and barista to make your everyday life functional. Appreciate everyone you cross paths with because in some way they've benefited you.
