Lifestyle
By Sarah J. Thompson
Updated: Aug. 11, 2023
I genuinely cherish human interaction. I’m that person who engages in delightful conversations with strangers in waiting rooms, grocery store lines, and any place where individuals cross paths. If you’re wearing a name tag, I’ll use it, and I can confidently say that after our encounter, you’ll likely leave with a smile. I even pursued a career in community service, where meeting new people daily was part of my job to help them with their problems.
I adored people—young or old, impatient or calm, introverted or outspoken—everyone deserved respect, and I believed we were all navigating this journey of life together. The mantra was simple: treat others kindly, uphold the golden rule, and make the most of our time on this planet.
Then came the internet.
With this incredible resource that revolutionized our lives, we encountered new terms like troll, viral, haters, and vague-booking. It was a far cry from the innocent world I knew, where trolls were mythical creatures and stalkers were just frightening figures from horror stories.
Now, just a few minutes scrolling through social media can lead me to utter, “I can’t stand people.” I become frustrated with their rudeness, ignorance, and inability to communicate respectfully. What has changed in our society? What has changed in me?
As a mother trying to raise my children in this chaotic digital age, I find myself overwhelmed by the emotional toll this hatred for others takes on me. It’s not how I was raised, and I’m exhausted from the weight of negativity.
So what’s the solution? Should we all abandon social media to avoid confrontations with rude individuals? Or should we consciously choose to embrace love and acceptance for our fellow humans, flaws and all?
For me, the answer lies in choosing compassion.
Will it be easy? Absolutely not. But it will be worthwhile. I’ll begin by consciously scrolling past the negativity that incites anger. I’ll remind myself that everyone has their struggles, and by fostering hate, I only add to my burdens. Instead, I’ll strive to approach others with kindness and understanding, lightening our collective load.
I will focus on engaging with people in my local community—like the mother at the park who seems lonely and could use a friendly smile or the tired waitress who deserves a compliment for her hard work. By clearing my mind of the “everyone is terrible” mentality, I can replace those thoughts with affirmations of love and support. Wouldn’t our world be more beautiful if we all made this choice?
Imagine how much lighter our spirits would feel, and perhaps my hair wouldn’t be turning gray from stress. Let’s opt for kindness, forgive those who may provoke our anger, and spread joy throughout the online space.
For additional insights on navigating the world of home insemination, check out this blog post. Also, if you’re looking for comprehensive information on the topic, resources like this page are invaluable.
In summary, we can reclaim our love for humanity by consciously choosing to engage with kindness, both in person and online. By doing so, we can foster a more compassionate community that uplifts rather than diminishes our spirits.