"Life is stunningly short and it is eggshell fragile. Most people are having a really tough time. They are almost always in more pain than you think they are. Everyone is doing the very best they can to get through this day, and many are going through all manner of horrors in the process. No one is immune from the invasive collateral damage of living. And you don’t have to save these people or fix them or give them any special treatment. They are rarely asking for such things. The thing these wounded and weary human beings most need from you as you share this space with them—is FOR YOU NOT TO BE A JERK. It’s really that simple. They need you to NOT contribute to their grieving, NOT to compound their sadness, NOT to amplify their fear, NOT to add to their adversity. They NEED anything less than contempt from you. They NEED you to embrace the vow of doctors and caregivers, of trying to do no harm to them. This isn’t difficult, either. Actually, when it comes right down to it, not being a jerk is about as elementary as it gets: ☆DON'T impose your religious beliefs on other people. ☆DON'T demand that they adapt to your preferences of identity or orientation. ☆DON'T to take away things that keep them physically healthy or give them peace of mind or allow them access to education or opportunity. ☆DON'T put obstacles in a parent’s way of caring for their children or working to support them or guiding them safely into adulthood. ☆DON'T tell people who they can marry or how they should worship or where they can call home. ☆DON'T do things that make them more vulnerable to sickness and sadness and stress. ☆DON'T to keep people from having things that you take for granted. Remember this: Life is short. It is extremely fragile. People are grieving. They are struggling. They are hurting. For God’s sake and for their, DON'T BE A JERK." ~ John Pavlovitz #dontbeajerk #2020thoughts #lifeisshort https://www.instagram.com/p/B74F8XSloMiXDufvmPnuUO_YQ_fLhi0_Dys3P80/?igshid=almgqb6r9tmy
