On being human.

No matter how many flights you’ve taken, takeoff always tends to feel at least on a subconscious level unnatural.
Looking across the aisle I watched a man do the sign of the cross across his shoulders while the plane launched itself off the runway.
Seeing this felt like peering into a moment of genuine vulnerability, a peak into what we all try so hard to cover up with degrees, relationships, wealth, job titles and often times humor. We try to hide the fact that no matter how many trips around the sun we’ve taken we all still feel like kids dressed up like adults.
I’m starting to realize that the insecurities and fears we have do not magically disappear with age but rather we learn to be experts at hiding them.
With this in mind we can begin to see that the insensitive and hurtful things we hear from our fellow humans often stem from a universal desire to be loved, heard and respected.
Loved in a sense that despite the mistakes you make someone will be there to see you through it — not that the mistakes aren’t there, but that they don’t diminish your intrinsic value in their eyes. They see you for who you are and don’t walk away.
Heard in a sense that someone takes the time to not only listen but hear without making judgements about how small or insignificant a problem may seem to be. The truest form of listening is a way into developing a fully realized empathy.
The sum of these parts should ultimately result in genuine respect. We will begin to be able to respect each other not because we always believe the same things or hold the same values, but because the other person is just as human as you are. We make mistakes and sometimes the worst version of ourselves comes out under stress. But ya know forgiveness and grace because we’ve all been there at some point.
We should strive to hold these three things throughout all our human to human interactions. It will look differently depending on the type of relationship, but at the core these things should always be there.
With a world so filled with hate, love.
In a world so loud, hear.
We don’t always have to agree but we should always strive to respect.
Sorry for all the peace, love and happiness vibes; probably too much late night yoga.
