Untitled, but Ironically...

Anytime I see the news, I’m reminded of how disconnected from each other we’ve become. I realize the irony of that statement; being that we live during a time where it’s easier to communicate with each other through multiple avenues (Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, etc.) than ever before. I’m not the first to say this or even the most eloquent but I feel we’re losing a part of our humanity – our ability to connect with each other on more than a superficial level. I feel we’re losing the ability (or even desire) to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and try to see things from their perspective. Politics serves as a good microcosm of the problem we, as a society, are having. Not only is the divide between the parties so great as to make a realistic compromise unlikely, it’s almost impossible. In addition to the ideological differences, there doesn’t seem to be any interest in trying to see where the other side may have some merit and to incorporate their ideas into your solutions. I bring these thoughts forth admittedly without much of a solution. What I try to do is to just take the 30 seconds or so it takes to try and empathize with from where the other person is coming. I can’t always “see” from where they’re coming and even when I can empathize, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ll change my viewpoint but I can’t tell you how important a thought exercise I feel this to be. I haven’t always been able to do it. I think I was about 18-19 when someone proposed this idea to me – trying to see where someone else was coming from – and so I gave it a shot. Over the years, it has genuinely changed the way I look at life. It has definitely made having an unwavering opinion on a lot of topics hard – because if there’s a legitimate argument to be made on the other side, it must be addressed and incorporated into my thinking. Having said that, I don’t view that as a loss. Maybe, just maybe, in general we shouldn’t be so quick to tell people what our opinion is. Especially if we haven’t taken the time to make sure our opinion is what we really believe. Challenge yourself. Challenge those beliefs you think you think you hold so close and make sure they live up to the scrutiny of true debate. If they don’t, change your thinking – there is NO shame in changing your mind on something over time. I think this sort of critical thinking leads directly into the “Golden Rule” – Treat others as you would have them treat you - I honestly feel if the world would be so vastly improved if we all did NOTHING more than to just try and live by that rule.  I mean REALLY live by it. If, before you took action, you made sure that in the reverse situation you would want to be treated in the same manner then I consider that a human victory. We’re the only ones that can change this – together!!!