This weekend I spent a lot of time on the roads with me, my running shoes and my thoughts. Oh, and podcasts. Podcasts that got me thinking. I listened to a few different ones (stay tuned for post on my favorites later this week) but most episodes focused on respecting other people’s choices and opinions.
A few highlights from the interviews in the episodes…
-Some people loved running tons of miles. Others felt better lifting weights.
-Some people felt their best eating Paleo. Others found the diet too restricted.
-Some people enjoyed exercising with a group of people. Others preferred working out alone.
The basic point? We are all different.
The deeper message? What we do, eat and believe is not inherently better than what anyone else does, eats and believes.
My takeaway? Respect others.
If you have read blogs for any length of time, you know that bloggers are opinionated (but, really, all people are). While our blogs are ours and we are free to write what we want, I think we should try being informed rather than opinionated. We should be accepting of other’s beliefs rather than critical. We should be open to hearing other people’s choices and reasonings because, isn’t that how grow as people? By being challenged and learning new things?
Just because you despise a certain food/workout/fashion trend/movie/fill-in-the-blank doesn’t mean everyone else should. More than that, you shouldn’t attack them for having that opinion. Respect what they believe and move on. Sure, you may not understand why someone else does what they do, but that makes life interesting. It sparks curiosity and opens our minds to other possibilities.
It all boils down to the golden rule: If you want others to respect your choices, you have to reciprocate the action. In blog comments, posts, on social media and, of course, in real life. Attacking people does no good. If anything, it defines who you are.
Just some food for thought on this Monday…
I needed to read this today! I love it! :) thanks so much! I totally agree. Not everyone is going to agree with everyone so we all just need to live our lives!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I had some built up thoughts that I just wanted to get out :)
Can’t wait to see what your favorite podcasts are!
This is such a great post, and one that more people should read. I absolutely love the message of being informed, not opinionated. I hate it when people don’t listen to other sides and simply shut out other ideas. We learn so much when we open ourselves to other perspectives and end up being happier people!
Great post for Monday morning!
Thanks so much, Gretchen! I wish people weren’t always so one-sided. We don’t have to “win” every conversation. Sometimes we just have to accept differences and move on.
Great take away! I can be hard sometimes and so many of us struggle with it. We like to be right! But really, no one will ever be 100% about everything, and nothing in life is certain anyway! Difference is what makes the world work!
(P.S. CONGRATS on becoming an FF ambassador!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) XOXO
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Fruity Banana Coconut Pancakes
Difference is absolutely what makes life interesting. We need more of it :) Thanks, friend! Happy to be a member.
Dang, I love this post. I love your point about being informed rather than opinionated. Being too opinionated makes us blind to other people’s perspectives and feelings, I think. And I love your point that we’re all different. Just because there’s a lot of good in the Paleo diet doesn’t mean I’d ever be happy doing it…and just because I thrive running 5-6x days per week doesn’t mean that everyone else needs to, too :)
Liv @ Healthy Liv recently posted…Balancing Food Cravings & Healthy Eating
Exactly the message I was trying to get across. Other people have feelings. Even if WE think their opinions are “wrong,” we can’t discredit them because people are entitled to think for themselves.
Truth! I’ve stopped reading many a blog because they’ve gotten too preachy about certain subjects…I’m all about to each his own, but I think there’s a certain way to go about it. We don’t all have to agree, but we have to get along!
I’ve backed away from preachy blogs, mainly those that don’t practice what they preach. Or they fall too heavily toward one side, if that makes sense. Having different opinions and NOT agreeing on everything is fine as long as we’re nice :)
Great post. Especially since sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in blogs that seem to give rules and regs. Remembering we are all different and there is no right or wrong way is a great thing. It seems easy but sometimes hard to do
It is easy to get caught up in what other people preach but there’s no one perfect or “right” way to live. I agree, it’s much easier said than done.