Recently, my little sister and I got into yet another argument. She is extremely religious and I am not. We disagree on most issues because she sees things through a different lens than I. Not just because of religion, but because I am also four years older than her and we live different lives.
Although we may have different aspirations for our future, we both agree that the world is a bit too grim. With that being said, in light of our recent conversation, I have decided to share simple ways to spread a little love in an otherwise hate filled world.
1. Stop stereotyping.
The only time stereotypes are good are if they encourage you to try new things. For instance, “Chicken is so great, so everything that contains chicken must also be great, as well.” Although this may not be true, it still encourages people to have an open mind and try new things based upon a simple generalization. Stereotypes are negative when they are discriminatory generalizations. Such as, “One time I had a gross piece of chicken, which made me sick, so all chicken is gross and bad. I hate chicken, everything about it scares me and I am afraid to get sick like that again.” As you can see, this stereotype of all chicken is detrimental to society. Now just imagine several people had this same piece of chicken from this restaurant, and now everyone feels this way about chicken because they are afraid of it. This is how racism works. Do not be a racist. Just because you ate one bad piece of chicken, it does not mean all chicken is bad. You should not let how you perceive all pieces of chicken that were super awesome and nice before, be defined by that one bad piece.
2. Do not bully people based upon their decisions.
Especially if those decisions are protected by the Constitution or have been decided upon by the Supreme Court. You cannot bully someone for exercising their rights, and then complain when they do the same thing to you. That is called being a hypocrite. Do not be a hypocrite.
3. Do not mobilize aggression.
If you are angry about something, speak about what you are angry about as calmly as you can. Do not give the opposition a reason to come back and be aggressive with you. That is called being mature and respectful.
4. Most important of all, love each other.
Send people positive messages out of the blue because you are a good person. Do things without expecting something in return. Spend time in nature and enjoy the environment while you still can. Have fun while you are young. Check in on people and make sure they are OK. Be a supportive friend. Be sure to be as kind as possible and remember that you can get through anything.
Through rough patches, it is extremely important to remember that everything is constantly changing. It will be OK and if you need someone to talk to, I am here for you.
