On the heels of a day dedicated to honouring those who sacrificed so much for us, and in a world ripe with sanctimonious attitudes, I can鈥檛 help but wonder whatever happened to respect?
There鈥檚 an old saying that respect is earned, not given. Or is that trust?
Either way, I think that expression is completely out of date and out of touch.
Why shouldn鈥檛 we offer everyone our respect (or trust for that matter)? Is it because of our own jaded past, our wretched experiences with unsavoury souls that makes us hold that trust and respect close, unwilling to lend it to anyone new?
When you think about it, that really isn鈥檛 fair. How dare we let our past cast a shadow on our future? Is that fair to anyone new and innocent who could turn out to be a great friend, a partner or a colleague?
There鈥檚 a saying I learned a while ago about not 鈥渟hould-ing鈥� on ourselves or others. 鈥淵ou should do this,鈥� or 鈥測ou should do that.鈥� We鈥檝e all done it, and we鈥檝e all heard it. It鈥檚 seemingly innocent advice giving, but it is also unnecessary. Plus, it鈥檚 really not nice to 鈥渟hould on鈥� anyone.
Now, more than ever, a little more compassion and kindness is needed in this world. People are stressed about their health, their jobs, their future, their children. It鈥檚 making us all a little on edge and even pushing some over. Sadly, many people have become cold and callous. Whether it鈥檚 over differing political views or COVID-19 beliefs.
People just do not offer kindness as freely as they cast judgment. And everyone seems to have their own self-righteous opinion of everything.
I can鈥檛 say I鈥檓 not guilty of the same. Especially with all the stress and despair in the world right now.
But what if, instead of robbing Peter to feed Paul鈥檚 ego, we gave each other the benefit of the doubt?
What if we offered respect to one and all? It鈥檚 free to give. And if someone lets you down, it鈥檚 also free to take back. Or maybe they will surprise you and earn even greater respect.
Perhaps the world could be a gentler place if we all just showed a little more compassion to each other first.
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@VernonNews
jennifer@vernonmorningstar.com
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