We Need to do Better

We need to do better,

Better for our friends, for our families, for those around us and far away,

Better for the future,

Better for today,

Better for ourselves.

It's so easy to shutdown and so easy to judge,

Easy to blame others or specific situations for the outcome,

Easy to label one person for life by one action or one bad day,

So easy to build walls, make excuses, and accept your own thoughts as the ultimate truth.

It's easier to write someone off as rude, stupid, needy, ignorant or even "not worth the time" than it is to question why.

We question scientists, doctors, vets, nutritionists, government officials, established laws,

But not ourselves and our beliefs, not nearly enough.

We want to be unique thinkers, god forbid we are ever labelled as sheep, but, how often do we really stop and question our own beliefs and opinions? And I mean REALLY question them.

Questions where these beliefs stem from and are they still accurate or applicable?

Question the proof and the resources that provide that proof.

Question the reasoning behind the beliefs, the purpose of these beliefs.

Was this opinion developed to shelter or protect you from something that scares you more?

Was this an inherited belief from friends or family over time?

Was this a judgment based on little reasoning and driven by emotion at the time, only solidified by repeating it over and over?

Was this just an attempt not to be a sheep?

We need to do better,

Better by questioning our own opinions.

Better by allowing our beliefs to change.

Better by not being afraid to be wrong and learn from it.

Better through acceptance, warmth and compassion.

It is difficult, especially to start, to take those extra moments to question a quick judgment. Even more difficult to accept that it could be wrong.

I've lost track of how many times I have judged someone as cold or "stuck up" on one interaction. Wrote them off as such only to be proven wrong down the road. Only to learn that they were actually just very shy or, even worse, perceived me as cold and stuck up.

WE need to do better.

Better by acting with kindness.

Better by listening with not just an open mind but with interest and compassion.

By celebrating the little victories of others.

Better by reminding those around you that they matter, that they are worth that extra minute.

Better by showing appreciation to others.

Better by being kind.

When did compassion become lame or a sign of weakness?

When did it become obsolete to follow up with a thank you note?

Who still has a guest book to celebrate visitors and help you to remember those that took the time out of their day to visit?

When did being gullible or too nice become worse than being rude or cold?

What world are we building and developing that puts so much value on:

Making it Alone

Overworking

Burning Out

Never Trusting Others

Building Walls

Yet so little value on the impact compassion and kindness can have?

We need to do better,

Better by living in the moment and appreciating what everyone has to offer.

Better for those that have already sacrificed so much for our lives and the world today.

Better for those who will grow and learn in this world.

Better for those who have suffered so much at the hands of hate, racism, prejudice, unfair social and legal systems and so much more.

Better for those who are just trying to get through each day.

We may not have built this world, we may not be responsible for the damage in the past, but this is our world now. We are responsible now.

You don't have to do it all but why can't we just start with compassion and kindness?

For those around and for yourself.

Question a snap judgment.

Offer a compliment instead of an insult.

Don't be so quick to argue or excited to prove someone wrong for something that doesn't matter. Save your fight for the causes that matter.

Start by not typing that rude remark on Social Media.

Start by accepting that everyone has their battles.

Celebrate the little victories for yourself and others.

Appreciate the beauty of the world and work to build it.

We need to do better.

Better for those that deserve better.

Better for those you love, and those you barely know.

Better for yourself.

Better for your future.