Judging others

I was enlighten today by bar room talk. We were sitting around the bar watching tv and they were interviewing a mountain climber. My mom and I immediately protested mountain climbing with comments of "Who in their right mind would want to climb a mountain? Just look at that. Not to mention the cold and the equipment they have to carry." Another patron chimed right in, "I can't understand ambition to climb a mountain" My step-dad asked, "Who in their right mind wants to walk on the beach?" Then he followed this up by telling us to quit being so judgemental. He is right.

How often have you done this? It's one thing to say it out loud to a television show,but face to face in life, how often have you done this? I've done this to others and I have also been on the receiving end. Whenever someone questions my activities I feel belittled. It's not a good feeling.

We are all guilty of judging people when their activities are harmless and not effecting us one bit. Why do we do this? We should embrace our differences and be willing to be open to people's life experiences. We should celebrate the fact that someone has a passion in life.

The next time someone is telling me about what I would consider an outlandish activity (mountain climbing, bear hunting, ice fishing, parasailing etc.) I am going to be open and engage the person in conversation. You never know, I just might learn something along the way.

That is truly what life is about - experiences and people.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them" - Mother Teresa