I challenge you to take the time to uncover the complex system that sits next to you in your lecture. Not because you want to fill the awkward silence with small talk about the weather, but because we as humans need to step outside our self-centered view and understand the immense diversity that makes up humanity. It is so easy to be unavailable to people because a constructive and intentional conversation can be uncomfortable, especially when it is with someone that you do not know very well. And let’s be honest, it is so much more comfortable to just stay in your bubble of friends than reach out and build a relationship from the ground-up. However, when we open a pathway that establishes a genuine interaction, we are forming a human connection that comes from a place of kindness, which unfortunately is something that is lacking in this world. I am not saying that as humans we are inherently mean, but it is more common for us to focus on our close relationships, especially the relationship we have with ourselves, rather than reach out and extend a random stem of genuine friendship.
Personally, I know that I have fallen into this streamlined view in which my own anxieties control how I interact with people. Growing up, I have always struggled with aspects of my personality that left me feeling very shy and closed off to people who I did not know very well. However, I have come to realize this is something that should not be used as an excuse for indifference. Everyone is dealing with their own insecurities in some form, these insecurities are what makes us human. However, we must not let these insecurities fester and control our ability to reach out and form genuine connections to others. Showing that you really care about someone’s well-being can be as simple as asking how they are doing with the intention of actually listening to a thorough response, rather than being satisfied with the surface-level “Fine, how are you”. I find that this everyday interaction, which can be easily passed over, has the potential to form a pathway that creates a real human connection. And in this connection, we establish kindness that is capable of inspiring a relationship founded on an understanding of the complexities of humanity.
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