I was sitting here a little while ago, writing what started off as an answer to a simple question in an email of someone asking my experience about a particular situation, and that response grew into me sharing personal pieces of my life journey that I haven’t really thought about in a while. It was in that moment, when I realized that in sharing that journey- that I have a story to tell.. one that may impact the life of another person.
Oddly, this came after my mother-in-law said to me, when I was expressing concern and compassion for someone who was struggling with a particular situation- “Don’t feel compassion and concern for them, they are the way they are based on their choices.” My response was that it may very well be the case, but that doesn’t mean they don’t deserve compassion or concern, and that I can’t be that uncaring. My mother-in-law may very well be correct in that person being how they are by their own choices, but that’s neither here-nor-there.
I believe we should walk a mile in a persons shoes before we stand in front of them passing judgement and making accusations. We never know what has brought a person to their current situation, and sometimes, a smile and maybe a bit of compassion makes ALL the difference.
Remember that- and I challenge you to BE that difference. Anyone can be ordinary. I challenge you to strive to be EXTRAORDINARY!
