“As I get older, the more I stay focused on the acceptance of myself and others, and choose compassion over judgment and curiosity over fear.”
Tracee Ellis Ross
Are you a judgmental person? I saw this editorial ofĀ Tracee Ellis Ross for US InStyle November 2018 and paused to think about her comment about compassion. Ā I’ll admit that I used to be more judgmental. Ā I had compassion for certain people, but was truthfully more impatient and reactive. A few years ago, I would be bothered by how someone I knew kept protecting her partner. Ā To me, his faults were so obvious. Ā Why couldn’t she just be sensible and denounce his behavior.Ā I knew I was (and am) reactive, but sometimes just couldn’t help myself. Ā I would scorn others for doing something a certain way. I really could have used a lesson in compassion.
Luckily, I learned a little more as I got older. I became a little more patient and compassionate. I now stop and think “Why did that person act that way?” instead of immediately putting down their actions. Ā I’m not always patient with my family, but have learned to be a little more patient. Ā I think about my little firecracker of a daughter and how I would want her to act. Ā I want to model and teach her to have more compassion for other people. Ā So sometimes I catch myself from reacting. Ā Instead, I pause and try to have more empathy. Ā It doesn’t work all the time. Ā But I’m still learning about compassion. Ā While I can still sometimes be judgmental, at least I’m doing it less and less. Ā So I develop more compassion for myself as well.
Have a lovely week!
This is a beautiful editorial. Her style is so much fun and at the same time very much her, attitude and it has a slight sophistication to adore. I think as we get older it’s normal to change. I have evolved more and more over the years and find that it’s far easier to release things than before, I worry less and enjoy life more. Life is too short.