Once upon a time there lived a fine elderly couple who ran a prestigious china shop in one of the most dignified communities in all of their country. Each month they did business with individuals of the highest of status, with some even having direct connection with the ruling monarchy of the kingdom. Their wares were found to be the most valuable and well-made in all the land. Although prices were rather expensive, the quality and exquisiteness were well worth the cost. One evening a bull happened across this china shop and proceeded to purchase all the merchandise he desired while marveling at his luck of finding such treasures by chance. The bull formed a lasting friendship with the mongoose couple that ran the shop and even found employment under the hippopotamus king through connections he made through the regular customers. Luckily for the bull, there were no stereotypes that would have prevented him from experiencing all this good fortune.

As much as you may try to deny it, we all make assumptions about people within the first few moments we meet them based purely on physical appearance. What brand of shoes they wear, how they get their hair cut, what their body looks like, how they smile, and the color of their skin are just a few things we make judgments about. We discern an individual’s significance based on what their husband or wife looks like, how much money they make, what car they drive or even their country of origin. Society desires to dissect every single element about a person without ever actually knowing anything about that person. When someone is categorized in this manner, ugly stereotypes are formed which then go on to falsely describe an entire group of people. When you and I go about our own lives avoiding this issue, we only worsen the problem in the process of ignoring it.

I have found companionship to be a human characteristic not limited by country, race, or any worldly boundary. People desire to form relationships, and you might be the very friend that they need. When you meet new people who might fit exactly into a stereotype you hold to be true, my advice is that you get to know them anyway. You might even learn something about yourself and grow in the process. Don’t let false assumptions deter you from possibly making some of the best friends you’ll ever have. At the very least, a normally absent random act of kindness could be just what a stranger needs to get through their day. If you do strongly believe in and encourage stereotyping a group of people, I just want you to know that it tells me very little about those people. It does, however, speak multitudes about you.