White walls. Frozen clocks. Descriptions that are often given to waiting rooms. A description of the one I am in now.

And I sit here and think that I can wait no longer or my head will explode. I sit here and think that in a moment I can turn from a sane person into some wild, angry animal that is ready to tear down the white walls that look back at me.

And I wonder. Why is it that the human race is terrible at waiting? We watch the second hand on the clock, yet it seems to move only after a minute; the minute hand only after an hour. I wonder how we become bored with the words in a magazine or the endless activity available on the modern-day technology of a smart phone. We become desensitized to the stimuli around us and we become numb.

In our modern society, nothing excites us anymore. With a world bursting at the seems with beauty, culture, nature, and treasures, we still glorify the term, “bored.” But, you will never be bored if you open your eyes and seek the riches of the world with a feeling of adventure and a craving for wanderlust.

Even in a city, where I am now, you can find simple hidden wonders in the most surprisingly common places. Look around at the people in the white room, the elevator, or the streets filled with bustling air. Many human beings, or souls rather, with names that we do not know. With places to call home. With a myriad of life experiences bringing them to this moment right here. Souls with a story unknown from just looking at them. A hidden past. They may be broken, wearing a mask that covers up grief, pain, and sin. These people may not have much, or they may have it all.

And how neat it is to walk anonymously through the city, without your entire life written across your forehead for all to see. You are an endless mystery walking in and out of the lives of those around you; crossing paths momentarily with others who are trying to make it by and make it count.

The ability to look at others through not only open eyes, but an open mind, tears down the differences that set people apart: race, gender, disability, mental illness. It allows you to realize an essential fact of life: our hearts are all the same. We are all capable of immense love and we all experience devastating destruction. This shall tear down feelings of hatred, jealousy, and avarice.

Because in the end, every one of us has seen pain and weathered a storm we never thought would end. We have all gone through a chapter that we prefer to never speak about. Everyone is a fighting soldier dealing with a different war. To become jealous of another is to worry about a war you can never win. Sometimes we may compare another victory to our own struggle, thus creating insecurity and losing confidence that is rightfully yours.

You must realize you are not a victim, but a courageous warrior, and you can win your battle. You must put your feet on the front line of your battlefield and release all fear. For fear is the greatest obstacle of all.

So, when you look around, you will see people. Women, men, black, white, rich, poor, able, handicapped, healthy, hurting, and everything in between. You do not know with the naked eye where they are in their struggles or heartache. You do not see their wars or their fear. We must never judge another before we learn about a person’s unique soul. By treating others with kindness and opening up your heart, you just might ease their struggle. Never underestimate the power of a kind word, a helping hand, or a smile.

While waiting in the dreaded room with the white walls, these facts and feelings fell upon me as I saw the diversity throughout the room. Each person has a different way of passing the time, of reading a magazine, of keeping themselves entertained. Before you glorify “bored,” look around the room that realize the beauty in each and every person that enables this world to evolve and be complete. You may pick up on idiosyncrasies and traits by watching others for short amount of time.

Realize and remember that everyone has someone to love and has someone that loves them. Everyone has a story and the way you act could add positive or negative words on the pages. With a simple hello, you could make someone’s day or even heal some of their brokenness.

While you are waiting, whether it be in an enclosed room with white walls or waiting to acquire the courage to face your fears, always be the most accepting and jubilant being possible. Through your diffusion of happiness unto others, you just might find some for yourself.