We all work through the lens of our own experiences. Each of us view the world slightly differently than our neighbors. We all filter the experiences and input through our own values, opinions, upbringing, experiences and environment.

I am different from my brother. I have different attitudes than my mother and father. My wife and I see things differently. As do my co-workers, grandparents, uncles, and the stranger I rode next to on the Metro this morning.

We are all processing the variables of the world into our own understanding of it. And that understanding is going to be different from everyone else.

I am unique. You are unique. We are all unique.

I understand that I will process the world in my own unique way, and I try to remember other people will too. My understanding is not The One True Way.™ But neither is yours.

I can’t see the world through the eyes of another person. What may hurt me, they may not even notice. What brings their to rage may not even register in my brain. All I can do is to regulate my own actions and words. I don’t set out to offend. I set out to live my life and try to do right by myself and those around me.

I try to work for the common good and see the world from a larger perspective than myself. But it’s hard and I don’t always do a good job of it. But I try.

And trying is what makes the difference.

Photo by David Ragusa