Most of the people on this planet are not fortunate enough to have a choice about how they live. In fact, most people can’t even choose where they live, so it’s way too judgmental of the rest of us to tell them that if they don’t like it there they should just move. Life, for ninety percent of us is a constant and difficult struggle to survive.

For the rest of us, the fortunate few, there is a lot we take for granted. We have our own struggles, but most of the time it’s not a daily life and death battle to keep a roof over our family’s heads and food in their bellies. So we forget, and we invent other, less important things to occupy that part of us that needs something to obsess over. And that’s okay, most of the time. Second hand smoke makes me feel sick. Three-dollar-a-gallon gas is something to be angry about. Getting cut off on the freeway is an outrage.

But can’t we all just get along? I’m not talking about the mean people; they suck. I’m talking about people that we know are well-intentioned. If they make a mistake, can’t we just let it go, or gently correct them? Do we have to sneer and bray and make them feel small? There’s no reason for people to hurt each other over a simple misunderstanding, or a different way of looking at life. We can argue with people over a differing opinion, but we don’t have to call them names or turn our backs on them.

I guess what I’m saying is, Why doesn’t everybody do what I do? I just try to get along with people, and give them the benefit of the doubt, and let them be who they are, instead of ragging on them for not agreeing with me or catering to me. I try to smooth things out between people, instead of stirring things up. When I can’t say something nice, I keep my mouth shut (most of the time). What’s so hard about that? It makes life so much better and easier and more fun.