I have seen it all so much recently; the posts about “why I identify as this” and “why I don’t actually agree with that”. And, all in all, I get it. I think we are at a specific time in the cycle of life where there is so much occurring that opinions happen at the opposite ends of all kinds of different spectrums. No two people should ever be expected to have the same thoughts or feelings about the same thing (that’s impossible). All people are different, and what makes humans so special is that we actually have the capability of being able to try to understand each other.
I don’t think that has been happening lately. I personally am at a point in my life where everything is so new and scary to me. Having to figure out my next steps while working almost three different jobs just to make rent for the month while navigating course work and balancing what seems to be millions of different tasks thrown my way, by the end of the day I am exhausted. I am seeing it in so many people around me too- we are all tired, overwhelmed, fearful, and honestly frustrated.
I see myself becoming agitated about seemingly little things often; my roommate didn’t take the trash out for the millionth time, that girl I passed by in the hall gave me a weird look, my professor obviously doesn’t understand that I have more to do than just her class, or that student I tutor is late- again. I am stuck in this continual cycle of why am I being treated this way, or why is this happening to me?
My dad once told me, “people don’t do things to you, they just do things”. I thought about that tonight. Maybe, the more tired and anxious I become, that means the more tired and anxious someone else is becoming as well. Just as I am displeased with the fact that some girl is taking way too long to pull 50 cents out of her wallet for her morning bagel, she may actually be struggling to find that 50 cents. People are self-preserving, everything we do is done in an effort to save and protect ourselves. And honestly, there is NOTHING wrong with wanting to make sure that you, yourself, are okay. But, what that means is that only you are responsible for your actions- and how you respond to the actions of others.
Why must we love all people then? Because, the less you can focus on all the negative thrown your way, and the more you can focus on the positives that are in your life, the less angry you will become. It’s April, there are millions of tests and assignments coming my way, and I am just trying to keep my head above water- but then again- so is everyone else. When you love people, no longer do they serve as an inconvenience to you and your day, but what they’re going through is actually made a whole lot easier too.
I want to be able to wake up in a world one day where no one’s stress is compared to another’s. I want to be able to see issues become resolved, peacefully, and within intentions for all parties involved. I want to be able to have a crappy day without the fear or guilt of making someone else’s worse. But, maybe that starts with acknowledging that all people struggle, cutting people slack, and letting the little things roll off my shoulders. Maybe it starts with realizing that life isn’t meant to be easy. Maybe it starts with me, loving people for who they are no matter what they are going through.