Life Lessons

Throughout my life my mother always requested that I step back and find compassion and understanding for my peers, even if I didn't like them. So when I came home from my first days of first grade, it was with this message in mind that she advised me. I'd complained to her about the oddities of one of my fellow first graders, explaining her agitating behaviors, and it was then that my mother spoke up, declaring that "maybe she just needs a friend." At the time, her insight only confused me.

However, once the message sank in, and ever sense, I've had a nagging voice in the back of my mind reminding me to see from a different perspective, to think of the thoughts and emotions of others. I'd suddenly realized that other people had thoughts and emotions in the same way that i had thoughts and emotions. For a first grader, the epiphany was epic. I'm sure this lesson is learned by everyone as they grow up, but for some reason this lesson haunts me stronger than most. It's easy for me to over complicate a situation by analyzing the impact of my actions too closely, and I often have to take a second and chill out. So, both a blessing and a curse, I've learned to see multiple sides to situations and conflicts, no matter how strong my opinions.