More in Common.....

There are over 8 billion people in this world.  Imagine 8 billion human beings with different life experiences, different ideologies, different ideas and beliefs; to top it all off we even have different languages.  It is easy in this society to focus on differences.  We grew up with Sesame Street trying to get us to teach us to identify the item that was different.  Now there are even games on our phones to spot differences in two seemingly similar photos. 

In this world we can see these as black or white – you either agree or disagree; you are either liberal or conservative; you are either on my side or their side.  As a result we can allow our differences to divide us.  But if we pause and think about how much we have in common; they would probably outnumber the differences we have. 

There are people who may get under our skin or who we do not get along with; and that is expected (after all there are 8 billion people!).  Have you ever stopped to think what we might have in common with them?  I used to listen to a podcast by Leah Smart; particularly an episode titled “Just Like Me”.  It takes you through guided meditation to help you work with someone who maybe you do not get along with.  As you are guided, you talk through some things to remind you that this person goes through things just like you.  They feel things just like you; they aspire to things just like you; they make mistakes and learn just like you.  What the meditation helped me realize is that we really do have more in common than we think.  How we handle mistakes, how we learn, our aspirations may differ but we all make mistakes, learn things and have our goals and dreams. 

If we can start with what we have in common, it may be an avenue to get past the differences.  It is easy to let differing opinons and disagreements keep us apart rather than finding the things that can unify us.   But if we remember that the other person is a human being just like you, you can maybe see them in a different light. 

If Past presidents who were political advesaries have become friends then we all can do it.  This idea was reinforced when I was watching former President Jimmy Carterʻs funeral servcies on television (yes, I am that person who watches CSPAN and coverage of a former presidentʻs services).  Former President Gerald Fordʻs son Steve Ford had read a eulogy that his father had written for Carter.  Interesting backstory that years prior each had agreed to write a eulogy for the other to be read at the respective services. We can all take a lesson by Fordʻs words  "it was because of our shared values that Jimmy and I respected each other as adversaries even before we cherished one another as dear friends". (A similar eulogy was done by former Vice President Walter Mondale, which was read posthumously by his son)