Continuing on the topic of accepting and embracing the challenges that life throws our way, the last couple weeks have been, if anything, consistent. Another death of a friend, an unwelcome rodent in the kitchen, and significant changes in the daily rhythm and routine of life has provided us with plenty of opportunities to grow and strengthen as individuals.
Various recent social situations have reminded me of one particular aspect of human life that once again I feel the need to question.
Why is it that we find it necessary to paste labels?
Especially when referring to fellow human beings, but also with pretty much anything, it has become common human behavior to sneak our judgment of something into our description of that subject. Granted, adjectives are a necessary part of describing what sets apart one noun from another, whether it be a mouse, a car, a man, a woman, a child, or a dog. Unfortunately, all too often I hear humans finding the most judgmental or even worse the most negative part of that noun, and using that identifier to describe it to another human. Like a virus, this negative judgment is passed on to that person and implants it into their mind without giving them the opportunity to form one of their own. Only by mindfully working to remove negative labels from our daily conversations and thoughts do we free ourselves from placing harsh judgments, which then frees us from the ability for gossip, slander and negative emotions. Next time an opportunity arises in passing judgment or providing a simple description, use it instead to pass on an objective or even positive opinion rather than one that degrades and slanders.
With prejudice and bigotry remaining a significant problem in society due to ignorance in politics, religion and how we are raised, human beings must learn to “create the change we want to be.” We must stop looking to the person next to us, on the television, or at the podium running for office to make this change. Only by changing our own behavior and using the same method to spread the cure as is used to spread the disease, we can gradually eradicate the problem and begin to see the world around us change for the better. By “changing poison to medicine” and seizing these opportunites to grow and learn with our sons, daughters, friends and family, we can find the happiness in life everyone wants.
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