A great relationship is about two things: First, appreciating the similarities, and second, respecting the differences. Unknown
The older I have gotten and the more life experience I have gained the more today's quote has been learned. I'm beginning to learn that I don't need to feel or be threatened by people in my life who aren't exactly like me; whether that be in hobbies, beliefs, behaviors, work ethic, politics, parenting styles, etc. It's easy to appreciate the similarities I share with others, it's a lot harder to respect differences. I think it is harder to respect differences in each other because our culture doesn't encourage that. While our culture says it promotes diversity and tolerance it acts completely opposite. In fact, differences in the above things I mentioned often create division and derision. Respect is not encouraged. I don't know about *you* but I think that needs to change. Regardless of what our culture says or does we can do the right thing. We can swim upstream and respect the differences in each other. But we have to respect in the right and appropriate ways, we can't make up our own rules for what we say respect is but is actually derision masked in the word "respect". Part of a great relationship is respecting differences, but we must respect in genuine and authentic ways. If we don't do that then there is a fissure in the relationship and that diminishes the strength of the relationship.
Do you have great relationships? If so, do you find it is because you are able to appreciate the similarities, of course, but more importantly genuinely respecting the differences between you and the other person? Or if you don't have great relationships do you think it might be due to a lack of respect for the differences?
The older I have gotten and the more life experience I have gained the more today's quote has been learned. I'm beginning to learn that I don't need to feel or be threatened by people in my life who aren't exactly like me; whether that be in hobbies, beliefs, behaviors, work ethic, politics, parenting styles, etc. It's easy to appreciate the similarities I share with others, it's a lot harder to respect differences. I think it is harder to respect differences in each other because our culture doesn't encourage that. While our culture says it promotes diversity and tolerance it acts completely opposite. In fact, differences in the above things I mentioned often create division and derision. Respect is not encouraged. I don't know about *you* but I think that needs to change. Regardless of what our culture says or does we can do the right thing. We can swim upstream and respect the differences in each other. But we have to respect in the right and appropriate ways, we can't make up our own rules for what we say respect is but is actually derision masked in the word "respect". Part of a great relationship is respecting differences, but we must respect in genuine and authentic ways. If we don't do that then there is a fissure in the relationship and that diminishes the strength of the relationship.
Do you have great relationships? If so, do you find it is because you are able to appreciate the similarities, of course, but more importantly genuinely respecting the differences between you and the other person? Or if you don't have great relationships do you think it might be due to a lack of respect for the differences?
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