Who Am I to Judge?

Photo: Nicholas Doumani

​Zing! Another judgmental thought whizzed through my brain. And another. And another. They just kept coming. “That shirt doesn’t go with those pants.” “He shouldn’t wear skinny jeans.” “She looks anorexic.” “That outfit isn’t work-appropriate.” The thoughts wouldn’t stop.
 
But something inside me did. All of a sudden, I thought, “Who am I to judge?” And I started to wonder about the thoughts and judgments people pass my way when they see me.
 
It’s easy to judge others by their appearance. Why is that? Do we want those same judgments cast on us? What do we want people to think or remember when they see us? By judging others, we put ourselves above them. But what makes me any better than anyone else?
 
It’s a dog eat dog world we live in. But maybe it’s time we turn that around. What would it take for us to stop and see the good in those around us? Yes, even if they vote differently than we do.
 
You can’t necessarily tell at first appearance what someone is going through. Shouldn’t we give them the benefit of the doubt?
 
I had the privilege of participating in a Cancer Survivors Celebration Day a few weeks ago. Some of the people I encountered were really hurting. Their pain was fresh. Yet, they were there to celebrate life, regardless.
 
Why can’t we do that? Instead of judging, let’s celebrate each other. Each of us has something unique to contribute. Sure, we all make mistakes, but we all have good in us too. And maybe we should spend less time casting judgments on one another and more time looking to uncover and bring out that good.
 
Although we’re all different, we’re all really the same: in need of love. Will you show love to someone around you today? 

---

You might also like:
In Search of Community
​Wanted: Interaction
Somebody Needs You