Tolerance is the ability and willingness to understand we are all different. To accept that everyone around us should not have to cater to our personal needs and beliefs. It’s the ability to co-exist with our fellow humans and accept our differences of opinions and beliefs without feeling the need to fight or voice our disagreements to get OUR way.

Seeing the world through tolerant glasses makes us better humans. It gives us all the ability to believe what we believe without judgment of what others may believe. It means accepting that the world doesn’t revolve around us, we’re not so special that something as simple as a choice of music, or someone saying bless you when you sneeze offends us. It means we understand others may believe and live their lives differently, which gives us the freedom to do the same. We should not except that we live in a world of intolerance, all feeling a need to be on the lookout for the next thing we perceive as an offense be it to ourselves or someone else. We should be trying to understand and accept; we are not all the same and that’s ok. Being and believing differently does not give us the right to treat others with anything but kindness. Nor does it give us the right to be up in arms at someone for their choices even if we disagree or it makes us uncomfortable for a moment. We all say or do things that can make each other a little uneasy, but that doesn’t give us the right to expect everyone to bend over backwards to appease us.

When are constantly looking for something offensive, to us or on behalf of others it means we are using our energy to find something to complain about. But why, we can’t control everything, trying to just upsets us more. Offensive thoughts and behaviors are around every corner if we want to find them. Tolerance allows us to relax and not concentrate on finding things to complain about, change or control, accepting our differences gives us the ability to not let it phase us. If someone’s beliefs or values are intentionally noninclusive, hurtful or hateful THAT is when we should be outraged and upset. A simple unintentional misstep or word shouldn’t get us all stirred up and stressed. Most of us already have enough to worry about. It’s impossible to please everyone no matter how much we may want to. In trying to please everyone we are potentially abandoning who we are in the process just to appease others.

Beliefs come second to how we treat each other. We need to embrace live and let live. As long as we are being treated in a kind fair manner then we should be able to accept that others are entitled to be who they are and treated in the same way. When we convince ourselves there is only one way to see things, no one wins. Let’s use our energy to better serve our fellow humans regardless and stop trying to find offenses where there may not be any, all that does is keep us angry and on edge, it’s not helping. When we come across a situation where someone is intentionally being treated unkind, unfairly, or bullied that is when we should be offended or step in and help.

We choose what offends us, what we will and won’t tolerate, with the choice to remove ourselves from certain situations. The problem with us humans is we often feel like everyone should know what is ok with us. We tend to want everyone around us to automatically think and care about what we’re feeling and thinking. However, there isn’t always a clear way for others to know or understand what might offend us. Tolerance allows us to be who we are and be ok with who others are.

Practicing tolerance helps us be ok in certain situations and means we don’t always get to be comfortable in every moment. We should appreciate, respect each other, and tolerate our differences. If someone explains or tells us they are offended by something or it is causing them distress in anyway, those are the times we try to be a good person, bend and make concessions for someone else, we shouldn’t ever want to intentionally upset or hurt anyone. It’s not about changing yourself or your beliefs it’s about being ok with and understanding others in a way that doesn’t allow us to be offended by what they believe and how they live their lives. It’s how we can all get along without the constant feeling of anger or stress.

Tolerance gives way to peace. Peace for us, peace for others and just makes this world a better place all around. As humans we should want to make the people who come into our orbit feel welcomed and invited regardless. Let’s strive to be good, respectful humans who choose to live in peace and harmony. When we choose tolerance, we choose peace and love over anger and hate. It IS our choice, let’s all make the right one. Treat others as you would have them treat you.