We Don’t Have to Understand Someone to Choose Kindness

The world needs more kindness and less judgment. Read a heartfelt reflection on compassion, respect, and treating others with dignity, even when we see life differently.

Kindness Doesn’t Require Complete Understanding

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is this:

We don’t have to fully understand someone’s life to treat them with kindness.

Every one of us has a story.

Every one of us has struggles that other people can’t see.

For those in the LGBTQ+ community, many have spent years trying to understand themselves before ever sharing that part of their lives with anyone else. Some have faced rejection from family, friends, workplaces, or their communities simply because of who they love.

Whether someone is a man who loves another man, a woman who loves another woman, or someone whose identity is different from your own, their existence doesn’t take away from yours.

Their happiness doesn’t diminish your happiness.

Their love doesn’t lessen yours.

I also believe something else.

Just as I don’t believe anyone should force their beliefs or values onto others, whether those beliefs come from faith, politics, or any other ideology. I don’t believe anyone should force their views on sexuality or gender onto others either.

Respect goes both ways.

Unfortunately, the loudest voices on any side often receive the most attention. Those extreme examples can make it easy to judge an entire community by the actions of a few. I don’t believe that’s fair.

Most people, regardless of their background, simply want to live their lives, love the people they love, and be accepted for who they are.

We don’t have to agree on everything to choose kindness.

The world feels divided enough already.

Maybe what it needs most isn’t more judgment.

Maybe it simply needs more humanity.