Being around people who are different from us makes us more creative, more diligent and more hard-working. It encourages better decision making and problem solving. We all come from different backgrounds and upbringings.
We all have different views of the world around us. We do have one thing in common though- we all have secrets. We all have internal conflict. We all deal with societal pressures differently. We all have problems that surface. It is hard to get lost in the day-to-day shuffle of life. It is important to remember that everyone around you is dealing with something that you know nothing about.
I asked people to tell me about a conflict they are struggling with. These are the responses.
*Warning: The following contains material that may be upsetting to some viewers*
“I wish my dad would listen to me talk instead of hanging up on me whenever I try to tell him how I feel.”
"Not one day goes by where I don't think about harming myself."
"I feel like everything I do is not enough and everything I do is judged by others, I feel afraid to be myself because I'm afraid I'll be left all alone because I'll be different."
"I like to tell myself that I don't have an eating disorder, but I have almost every symptom that leads me to it."
“I'm so lonely that I've resorted to sleeping with strangers and drinking to excess, no drugs though.”
“I wish I could be best friends with my therapist.”
"Sometimes you can be your own worst enemy, but learn to be kind to yourself anyways. We are not our circumstances or the things that happen to us."
"I've wanted to break up with my boyfriend because we are both so different. I tried once but he guilted me into getting back together."
"I want to be successful, but I also don't want to do work."
"Finding a balance between work and relaxation."
“I'm jealous of religious people because they have a community and something to believe in.”
"Trying to overcome repetitive family abuse."
"I hate myself and I resolve it by eating which makes me hate myself more."
"Always make yourself happy even if that means leaving the person you thought you couldn't live without."
“Not a day goes by that I don’t think about my best friend’s rape. I wish there was more I could do to help her.”
"I feel like since I have not been through a lot, I have a hard time relating to people and helping them with advice or problems that I haven't really been through."
"I just got out of the psych ward that I had to be in through state law."
"Confronting my mother about her abuse and that side of my family disowns me, it hurts."
"I had to forgive people who never gave me an apology."
These are statements from people of all genders, races, socioeconomic statuses, various ages, and backgrounds. These people are your co-workers, peers, family members, and friends. Be kind. You never completely know what someone is going through.
