Looking back on the past few years, it’s hard to imagine the kind of anger I had towards other people. I expected much of others without really thinking about how I would compare in their situation. And now, as cliché as it sounds, everyone telling me “treat others how you want to be treated” when I was younger finally began to stick.
I consider myself to be pretty clumsy, someone who often makes mistakes and is usually very apologetic. But, I was a tough cookie and a bit of a hypocrite, finding it hard to forgive others sometimes and letting their minor mishaps that got in my way frustrate me.
But, someone had once told me, “You’re only human,” after I had made a mistake and was apologizing profusely. I realized the high expectations I had for others, but expected others to lower theirs and forgive me.
And I’ve come to realize
Everyone makes mistakes.
A lot of our society is ingrained with the mindset that we’re supposed to walk into something already knowing how to do it right away, or rather, pick it up really fast, but in reality, might we ask ourselves if that’s really attainable? I feel that we become hard on ourselves because that’s the standard that we feel that we have to live up to.
However, mistakes and flaws are what shape us, helping us grow as people. Not perfect people, but people who strive to be better. We’re all different people, and it’s all our first chance at living.
So, give grace and forgiveness to others, as you would to yourself.
