Here’s the funny thing about opinions: WE ALL HAVE THEM
I’ve always been very opinionated. It’s been my best and worst quality for as long as I can remember. It’s brought me closer to people, and it’s pushed people away. As much as it saddens me to have people walk away, it’s also rewarding when someone agrees with me.
To hear, “You took the words right out of my mouth!” or “That’s EXACTLY what I was thinking!” is a small victory for any writer. I take pride in my writing because my thoughts and how I express them make up who I am as a person. It gives me strength and confidence. Your opinions SHOULD do the same, because your opinions are what YOU believe in.
Sometimes, believing in something is all we have. Your opinions and beliefs have formed over your lifetime through experiences, interactions, and a variety of conversations. Your opinions are actually fragments of other people’s opinions that you’ve collected through the years. Since you are one of a kind, so are your opinions. Therefore, we won’t always agree on everything. Social media allows anyone to share their thoughts with the literal press of a button. With that, comes those who agree with you and those who STRONGLY disagree with you. While I’ve personally learned to expect a rebuttal, I’ve also learned to respect it. I, only, wish others could do the same.
“YOU ARE WRONG!”
Children tell one another that they’re wrong. The don’t quite understand that not everyone thinks the way that they do. Children tend to think that whatever surrounds them in their households is normal, and anything different is wrong. Children grow up, and so should their mindset. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
People are so quick to shame someone over a difference of opinions. There’s no right or wrong to an opinion, only to facts. The only time I would EVER tell another woman she was wrong over her opinion is if she argued that Chris Hemsworth was not the hottest celeb. (He is. It’s fact.) Every opinion on anything else isn’t wrong, it’s just different. Politics, religion, culture, fashion, likes, dislikes, to bottle feed or breastfeed, pacifier or no pacifier, public or private school, music, movies, stay at home mom or working mom – it’s all personal preferences, beliefs, or tastes.
It’s OK to think differently and not always agree with each other, but it’s not OK to belittle someone, talk down to them, mock them, or point fingers. They’re just opening their hearts and widening your eyes to a different point of view. Instead of instantly trying to find a fiery comeback, we should sit back, breathe, and think “Wow, I’ve never thought of it that way,” or “I understand what you’re saying, but I feel differently.” Never knock someone down for being different. That’s what we’re constantly trying to instill in our children, so why can’t we instill that in ourselves? If it’s OK to look different, and it’s OK to be different, then it’s OK to think different. Just think about that.
Be respectful, be patient, be understanding, and most of all… BE KIND.
