Stand Up, Live, and Love

I can’t help but wonder if this world would be a little bit happier, our schools a little less dark and gloomy, the work places a little cleaner, and our minds a little more at peace, if we were to just change the way we acted. Acted towards our peers and our coworkers and our families and our team mates and even sometimes our closest friends.

No one can ever get to know someone for who they truly and fully are unless they give them the chance to talk and unless we just sit with open ears and a closed mouth. Sometimes all someone needs is to get it, whatever "it" might be, off of their chests. If instead of anticipating what they are going to say next we sit still. Instead of judging every word that rolls off of their tong we keep an open mind. Instead adding to the long list of labels that have been placed on them we just love them for who they are. For how unlike anyone else they are. For how valuable they are to this plant.

If we were to take our focus off of ourselves for, at most, 30 seconds we might be able to catch a glimpse of someone for who they truly are. Not what the mask they put on as they walked through the metal doors that morning says they are. Not who the mask they put on when they are around their friends say they are. And for sure not what the masks they put on themselves, every single morning in hope of hide who they really are from everyone they might see that day and even from them selves say they are. Everyone wants to be seen, but no one wants to be known. And that is so wrong. Everyone hurts sometimes. Sometimes more than others. And sometimes no one knows they are hurting because they hide their hurt behind layers and layers of masks, because they can’t even begin to imagine what people would say if they were to find out who they really were, what they loved to do in their free time, what brings them happiness, who they love, where they want to go, where they want to travel, and how they want to get to those places. They can’t begin to think about how many people would see who they truly are, and instead of loving and supporting them, they turn their backs and walk away.

If we were to smile instead of glare, if we were to hug instead of punch, if we were to love instead of hate, how much better could this world be? We all want to be able to walk into a place that we can call home or our second home and know that we are not going to be judged, or looked at, or treated differently, or worst of all attempted to be “fixed” when there is nothing actually wrong with us, besides the fact that we are open, honest, and confident about who we are, how we are doing, what is happening in our lives, who we love, what we are doing with our lives, our dreams, and what we want to do with the time that we have left. And because it’s not “normal” or doesn’t follow social norms to do that, we are "messed up", or "wrong" or something.

I never want to be responsible for NOT telling someone the words that they need to hear. Yes. At times we are all scared. Scared to be who we truly are. Scared to be honest with those around us. Scared of judgement. Scared of being rejected. And the thing we are scared of most, is being honest with ourselves. But if we really want to live our lives to the fullest, can we continue to live behind our masks? Or do we need to dig deep and pull up the last ounce of courage that we have been hiding away for so long and just be ourselves!? No matter what. No matter who. No matter the words that will be thrown at us. No matter the judgement we will have to endure from those so close to us.

We need to stand up, live, and love no matter what.