“Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover”, “More than Meets the Eye”, “Never Assume”, we can go on and on with platitudes about not judging everything at face value, but most of us still do it. We are so self-involved anymore that we never look past the surface, making split decisions about a person and their character. What happened to the benefit of the doubt? What happened to actually taking the time to get to know someone? I can’t blame the social media, in some ways I think that we can often learn more than we want about a person because of their openness or stupidity of what they post to the public. I honestly believe that it is more related to our own self-indulgence about ourselves. Do we want to take the time to get involved with the Who and Why that person acts or thinks a certain way? Probably not. We ignore the signs, close down the opportunity and let that person retreat back into the safe identity that we have pigeon holed them into. In many ways, this could be why there is so much cyber bullying, which is not where I was going with this spiel, but it makes sense. If a person is relentlessly teased about an oddity they will hide within themselves, afraid to defend or explain. It becomes too much for another to seek out the reason for the ridicule, the concept of “getting to know someone” is so foreign a task that it is no longer second nature. If someone does try to really develop a deeper friendship or understanding of who you are, do you not feel that they are too intrusive, almost rude? Accusations of being bold, forward, even dauntless in their pursuit to get to know you.
It is time to open ourselves up to let others in a little more, and it is definitely time to seek a deeper connection to other people in our lives. The Why is simple…. It is because if we don’t, it may be too late. What is your impact in the world? Have you made a difference? How will you be remembered? Let people see your true colors, the inner beauty that makes you so unique. Use the reflection of their interest in your life to shine past the dark waters to the depth of your soul. The light will pass as inspiration to others for eternity, never to be dim again.
