I bang on rather a lot about trying to see things from other people’s points of view.

It’s something I try to do because there’s always the chance I’ll learn something new or find out I was wrong and change my thinking, and I truly believe that the only way humanity will get through the next couple of hundred years is with empathy and compassion, without them we’re screwed.

I watch documentaries and read blogs about things and written by people that are NOT my usual sources of information…I want to hear new stuff that challenges me.

But sometimes events conspire to reinforce rather than change your thinking.

Starting gently is a blog I have recommended before (Raptitude.com) with an article with ‘one simple trick‘ that might actually work in changing how you feel…and treat others.  I am joining him in this experiment.  I really hope it works because my judgemental reactions are ones I’d like to lessen.

This next blog post is the reason I’m writing this one.

To really see things from someone else’s side you have to actually speak to the people living it…but what if they are non-verbal?    In that post you are asked to try an experiment that I know I wouldn’t last 5 minutes in, but I can let it sit in my brain and start to change the way I act.  I will save that post, reread it, and willingly let it alter my thinking.  I recognise my privilege and I want to be an ally, by reading these words and feeling just a tiny fraction of what this author lives maybe I can be a better one.

This last one is a frighteningly brief story that made me stop short.

I am somebody’s mother and the knowledge that there are people in the world who can make this possible, that they are contemplating it right now, fills me with fury and fear. They would end the world without a thought to me or my child…or for you and yours…

Is there more I can do than stand up, shout out and be counted?  I shall carry on looking for the answer to that.

Blogs:

• Raptitude.com  
• Idoinautismland.com
• freethoughtblogs.com/stderr