Everyone Is Fighting A Battle You Can't See

Growing older is inevitable, but trying to understand the people around you can be impossible. We all get frustrated with the little things. The person driving 30 miles an hour on the freeway, the people in front of you at the fast food drive-thru that can't decide what they want, and the screaming child in the store as the mother struggles to handle her multiple kids and shop. We make snap judgments based on the situation and how it affects us as individuals - especially if it affects us negatively. So, how do we reapproach to be kinder to one another?

Currently, I work for an animal nonprofit where I'm the Community Engagement Manager. The basis of my job is to build relationships - political, public, rescue groups, city, volunteers...etc. My path crosses so many different people and sometimes they are open and welcoming and other times they are dismissive and hurtful. The best thing to do when you are approaching a new person is to be warm, interested, and heartfelt in your conversations. Connecting with individuals regarding their passions and interests can open up new opportunities and break down walls that may have existed previously.

As we develop these relationships, we start to get personal and see the battles that people are truly fighting in their lives (professionally and personally). In turn, we either use this to build a stronger connection or use it to be emotionally hurtful. Over the last month, I've had the unfortunate situation of interacting with a volunteer that degrades staff, disrespects volunteers, and emotionally abuses everyone that they interact with throughout their time at the organization. No matter what is going on in your life, it does not give people the right to treat you badly. Even though people are fighting their own battles that you may not be privy to, it is important to stand up for yourself and others.

So, what is the purpose of this post? Evaluate yourself. Know who you are inside and out. Understand the good and bad in how you react to different situations and how you take in conversations. Use your emotional and positive intelligence to improve your life relationships. Lastly, know when you need to take a breath or step away from a conversation or situation to make it a better experience. Reflection is key. No one is perfect, but we can all take steps to improve how we treat others as well as ourselves.