A is For Acceptance

"Treat others like you want to be treated" said my mother, my counselors, my teachers ever since preschool. I've heard this so much I often forget the idea behind it, I dwell on the humdrum it became instead of the truth dormant within it. As a matter of fact, in elementary school, I was often resentful of this motto, because frankly, even though I treated others how I wished to be treated, the idea was never reciprocated, and most often, it was thrown back in my face. I recollect the sense of isolation, of solitude, and I wish no kid ever had to feel that way. Nonetheless, I believe that however that experience hurt me as a child, it has made me a more accepting person. I seek to never, ever, ever, ever, ever, for all of eternity to injure someone like that. No matter a person's appearance, their countenance, their differences, there is a detectable humanity that compels us all to pursue affection, acceptance, and love. Instead of focusing on the dissimilitude between ourselves and others, it is imperative that we perceive the common qualities and aspirations we share. We need to surrender our "default setting" that dictates our view of others only in accordance to their purpose to ourselves, and realize that no one person is better than any other. Essentially, we must be more patient with each other, not lose consciousness of the repercussions of simple actions, such as sympathy and understanding, and yes, most of all acceptance.