similar and not

We’re all a bit crazy. In our own way, we have the things that we can’t let go. We have our quirks that keep us from being completely normal. We each have our personalities and past experiences– but really, we’re usually actually quite alike.

We want to be content with our lives, we usually aren’t. We want to be connected to people, but we don’t want to be ignored or typical. We want to be okay, but also better than okay. There’s a lot of difference in what we consider to be “okay”, and someone who is homeless probably values a space to live as more important than someone who has always had one. In addition, we may be more or less ambitious, and in different parts of our lives.

People are not the same. We are separated from a large number of people because of geography, culture, politics, etc. Our experiences are different which makes our personalities and perspectives different. Yet, no matter how different people appear to be, we can understand the emotions of others. Do we understand everything intimately? No. But having empathy makes us able to understand at least a smidgen of their feelings, if we’re able to let go of our reservations.

So understand, or try. Don’t be afraid to relate to other people and their positions. Our emotions are what bind us together.