Part Of The Whole

We Are Part Of The Whole

I believe we are all connected and if I want to live a long beautiful life, I have to focus energy on the way I'm showing up in the world. I have to accept that I'm a part of a bigger whole and my actions impact it.

When driving I have to be aware of others or my actions could take a life.
At the store, I have to listen and watch so I don't run into another person.
Someone took care of the land and animals which made it possible for almost every meal I've had.Leaving trash, constant consumption, or other unsustainable actions impact the earth supports us. Our every breath is connected to the trees and ecosystems that support us.

The way I see it, every person we have ever met or will meet is part of us, even those we have never met are part of our story. If you've watched a movie, listened to a song, read a book, purchased a meal, driven in a car, or walked on a sidewalk, you've been impacted by someone you've never met.

As I've pondered on the part we all play in the whole, I've noticed a lot of people who don't seem to recognize just how connected we all are. Some people seem angry at others simply because they don't fit into their box of labels, their idea of how someone is "supposed to be".

I've seen and personally met people who are so attached to their perspective, that they are aggravated when another perspective is brought up, even if it's not in opposition to theirs.

Some people are angry simply because someone doesn't like something they do, or likes something they don't, even when it doesn't directly impact anyone else. (Ex: Men painting their fingernails. I understand why people have this perspective, some were told they'd be kicked out of their house if they came home with their nails painted. Even still, it's incredibly pathetic for one to let something as small as the color of another person's fingernails have power over them)

I believe we have the power to create better relationships, communities, and systems, but we need to work together. We need to focus more energy on understanding each other's perspectives and learning about experiences that led to them.

We must be mindful of our input, especially from extreme and biased views coming from social media. If we're not careful, we can easily be sucked into a social media algorithm that validates our fears and reasons for misunderstanding and hating someone we haven't met.

If we're not careful, we can get so attached to our limited perspective that we disregard experiences we've never tried to understand.

I suggest taking more time to learn about the experiences and perspectives of someone you don't agree with, stop wasting time on hate that erodes all relationships, and practice acceptance for the part you play in the whole.

Of course, I have no idea what we really need as a whole, there are infinite perspectives and experiences I don't understand, but I know that making efforts to understand others cultivates connection. I know cultivating connections leads to friendships, to supportive relationships, at least connections that don't tear down. I know that making an effort impacts us and others.

I hope you'll join me in trying to be more understanding, in trying to be better to each other. The only way we can build a connected, supportive world is together.

Thanks for reading, wishing you well. ✨
Your friend, Marshall