While returning from school yesterday, I got stuck in traffic. I noticed the van behind me was a "black maria van," typically used to transport prisoners to court, guarded by cops. This sight sparked a thought-provoking reflection.
Are the cops truly free, even though they're not prisoners? They can't walk freely as they have prisoners under their care. Similarly, the prisoners can't enjoy freedom of movement because of the cops watching over them.
The uniforms worn by the cops and prisoners can be likened to the labels and expectations we carry.
Think about this, we all have emotional baggage: frustration, anxiety, fear, past mistakes, failures and regrets. Yet we wear masks of assumptions, self-imposed standards, and inner critics when others are finding it rough.
We've all been in situations where we've judged others, assuming we know their stories. But do we really have the full picture?
When we judge, we reveal our own flaws and weaknesses. It's like pointing a finger at a person but three more fingers are pointing back at us.
We've all had those moments where we thought, "I would never do that" or "I'm better than that." But the truth is, we don't know what we would do in someone else's shoes.
Haven't we been on the receiving end of judgment and had those moments where we felt like we were being sized up, labeled, and criticized? It doesn't feel good, does it? So why do we do it to others.
How about we flipped the script? Instead of judging, what if we chose to see ourselves in others? That colleague who's always late might be dealing with a lot. Maybe they're struggling with anxiety, or perhaps they're caring for a loved one. We never know what someone else is going through, but we can always choose to be empathetic.
Let's make a conscious effort to be kinder, more understanding, and compassionate. Let's treat others with the same love and respect we'd want for ourselves.
We can start by being more mindful of our thoughts and actions. And, being more willing to listen and learn.
We can choose to see the humanity in others, rather than their flaws. We can choose to offer kindness, rather than criticism. We can be the change we want to see in the world.
The next time you're tempted to judge someone, take a step back and reflect on this quote from the holy book -"If you're without sin, be the first to cast the stone." This means because we sin differently and we're all in this together.
What a subtle reminder that we are all imperfect but can learn from each other, grow with each other, and rise above our imperfections together.
