Go. Get. Be There.

I do not know how to start this one.

However, I do know how I'm going to end it. So, we're going to start in the middle.

People decide to dislike other people before understanding them. Is this fair? No.

Yes, certain people believe they need to understand people or objects/experiences in order to form their own conclusions about who people are or what objects should be classified as. (This is vague, but that is on purpose.)

However, people are not created to be classified.

Man-made objects are and for good reason. A truck has a bed, a car has a trunk; there is a difference. We need the differentiation between a truck and a car because otherwise, you might end up asking your friend, Lonnie, to help you move because he told you he has a truck but he actually has a car. Then you're left with your king size bed laying on the side of the road because Lonnie doesn't know the difference between a car and a truck, and his Honda Civic won't get the job done.

(However, there are jobs Honda can get done. For example, getting you places affordably. They're also reliable. Affordable and Reliable. All the things your husband isn't. Honda. Is that a good slogan? How about this one? Go. Get. Be There. Honda. Oh, wow, that's the one. (***I am not being paid to endorse Honda.***))

To further illustrate my point, I will stick to talking about people, specifically, prostitutes.

I have heard ONE too many times that because someone is a prostitute, they are of lesser value. Why do some people believe this?

It has to do with religion and the law. Prostitution goes against Biblical principles that American laws were founded upon, and it's illegal.

But to say prostitutes are of lesser value because of their choices is NOT okay, no matter what you believe. (I would argue especially if you believe in Christ, but that is a discussion for another day.) That doesn't only apply to people who choose to work in the sex industry. Believing anyone is of lesser value than you because of their decisions is wrong, and I believe that as a society, this is something we are starting to agree upon. So, why does this still happen so often?

Because people aren't taking the time to understand each other. I have found in my unprofessionally conducted research that anytime someone "doesn't like this" or "doesn't like that," whether it be their neighbor, TV shows, food, etc., it's because they haven't taken time to understand that thing or that person. Which is why people are still being judged by what they do because so many people believe love is earned and that love can only come with understanding.

But love is not earned. Love is a gift, and sometimes, you may never understand someone, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't love them.

If you made a friend at a coffee shop without knowing they're a prostitute, I bet you would love them. And if you found out they are one later on, would you stop loving them? No. Because when you first met that person you saw them as a person. So if you went to prostitutes dot org and saw pictures of men and women choosing to work in the sex industry, would you consider them of lesser value because you're first seeing them for what they do instead of who they are? You shouldn't. Those people on the MADE UP site I just MADE UP probably go to coffee shops too. They may have families. They are human.

We can't forget that.

It is not fair for one to form their truth about a subject before meeting the subject halfway in understanding. For example, an abstract painting. Even if it is something you will never understand, you should have the capacity to make an effort to understand it so you can appreciate it. And if you never understand it, you should at least respect it because it is an outward expression of someone's inner thoughts and feelings.

How else do you expect to grow unless you are not placing yourself in uncomfortable situations that force you into understanding?

The reason people disrespect art, religion, culture, people, etc. is because they are not taking the time to understand it. If you only allow yourself to see experiences or people at face value, you will miss out on what makes this world so beautiful: love.

So before you judge someone, take a step back and try to understand them.

True understanding takes an open mind and the patience to listen. You also have to have the power of empathy to be able to understand why someone thinks the way they do. You don't ever have to agree, but it's important to make an effort to understand.

There are so many steps one must take in order to be open to true understanding. First, you have to overcome your own internal battle, then you have to practice a new way of thinking. It is so easy to jump to conclusions about people and place them into categories because that is how we have been conditioned to understand people.

But people aren't cars or trucks. They are both, or maybe they're an SUV, or a motorcycle, or all four, or not anything related to motorized vehicles. This is only a metaphor.

What I want to leave you with for this week is this:

In order to fully understand people, you must first understand you will never fully understand them, and you have to be okay with that. You're not supposed to make sense of people by categorizing them and assuming you know what they're thinking based off of their occupation, political party, or friend group. At the end of the day, you don't know that person's heart, and that's what you should be concerned about.

I want to challenge whoever is reading this post. If you know you are quick to judge people, this week I want you to make a conscious effort not to form your own conclusions about the people you meet or already know. Instead, realize that they are only a soul trying to figure out how to love the best way they know how, just like you. Listen to them and choose to understand their story and their perspective. You don't have to agree, you just need to be there.

So, Go. Get. Be there. (And if you're driving a Honda Civic, you can get there for about $28.52.)

Do you understand?