Comparisons

5. Don't compare your life to others, and don't judge them. You have no idea what their journey is about.

     This statement is another favorite of mine. How easy is it to compare ourselves to others? Too easy! There are many well known sayings that embody this idea --- "The grass is always greener on the other side; Don't judge a book by its cover; Comparison is the death of joy" -- Just to remind us of a few.

        The suggestion not to compare ourselves to others is some wise advice but the second sentence gets to the heart of the matter for me. I started thinking about everyone I knew, both close friends and acquaintances. Upon reflection, there wasn't one person or family that didn't struggle with some sort of problem. Some seemed way worse than mine and I'm sure my life obstacles and experiences may seem monumental to someone else. The point being, everyone is faced with some challenge. Unless they are close friends, we are probably clueless about what those entail. It helps me to understand this in most interactions with others. If they seem short with me or unhappy, it is almost exclusively due to what is happening in their lives and not a personal attack. That knowledge is a pathway to feeling compassion for everyone. Our common experience of facing challenges bonds us together as humanity.


     Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. 
                                                                          Plato