We are taught from a young age to make this pretty picture of what we think our life will be like. We grow up developing opinions and ideas based on who we are surrounded by. We strive to be the best we can be, even if we aren't sure what "best" even means. We cling to these identities so desperately because we don't know any better until eventually we are no longer our own person, it consumes us entirely.

What happens when we uproot ourselves and go someplace completely new, with different people, ideas, and beliefs?

I have learned a lot about what it means to have a voice, and how important it is to use it. In today's society, it's harder than ever to speak up for oneself without fear of being criticized. Moving from a small town to a city completely different from where I grew up has caused me to rethink a lot of what I used to believe. It's quite a wake up call when you go out of your own bubble and realize everyone has their own story, their own ideas, and they all think their idea is the best.

It's hard not being right all the time, I constantly struggle with the stubborn demons in the back of my mind telling me I am right, it's a part of my identity that I struggle with daily. No one's perfect, no one will ever be able to agree with everyone 100% of the time. But putting others down because they are different doesn't bring us anything but unnecessary heartache. It's the practice of having an open mind and respecting others that shapes us into a better society.

Being the bigger person isn't fun. Keeping an open mind takes a lot of maturity that not everyone has. It's scary knowing people will judge you and will think less of you for being different. It's so much easier to stay silent, conformity sounds like such a great idea to avoid conflict. But the moment you do, you lose your own voice, and I'll say this right now:

It's not going to get you anywhere.

People aren't going to change overnight, there will always be struggle, conflict, and ugliness. Having an open mind and respecting others isn't something one can learn overnight. But there's a power in letting go of the ugliness and letting in the positive. Open mindedness is a powerful tool. While not easy to master, it's a virtue we should all strive to embrace.