Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes?

“We are sun and moon, dear friend; we are sea and land. It is not our purpose to become each other. It is to recognize each other, to learn to see the other and honor him for what he is: each the other’s opposite and complement.” ~Hermann Hesse, Narcissus and Goldmund

In popular culture, we give lip service to the importance of honoring our differences and celebrating our uniqueness. It’s a noble theme in song lyrics, novels, speeches, and essays — but how’s that really working for us?

Deep down, we want others to appreciate our own special attributes. We want to be respected for our opposing points of view. (We’re always right, after all, aren’t we?) We want the freedom to worship as we choose, the freedom to express our convictions, the freedom to choose our lifestyles, and the freedom to “be” ourselves.

But are we just as willing to honor those who walk a different path or see things a different way? Are we willing to consider other opinions — or even listen to different ideas? I pose these questions because I’m working on this difficult challenge myself. ~CL

Photo of “Lost Soles” totem pole, in Glen Arbor, by Cindy La Ferle