Your Glass House Doesn’t Look Like Mine
But both are made of glass
Perception and assumption are opinions-NOT Facts
Some people see someone who is homeless and assume they are a junkie. You might be shocked to find out someone you go to Bible study with is addicted to alcohol or drugs. You think that can’t be possible, she’s at church every Sunday!
Assumption is the Mother of most F&€¥~Ups
Forgive this Christian sinner for the subtitle, but I’m a veteran, and this was a mantra when I was in the service. It’s so often the truth. We all do it. We assume because we are alive, and we are human beings. As such, our experiences shape what we perceive. If you experience homeless people in your life, and they were all on drugs, or someone told you that, or you see it on television, this may be responsible for your perception about homeless people. However, as adults, we should all know assumptions are almost always wrong.
Every, All, Always, Never, Men, Women, Whites, Blacks, Browns, Straight, Gay, Poor, and Wealthy
This is how we label each other, and there are many more, of course. But, those are big brushes, aren’t they? If you are a gay man, do you think all gay men think the same way you do about everything? What about your girlfriend from Puerto Rico? Do you think that she and her Jewish friend only vote for democrats? Do all of your German friends dip their french fries in mayonnaise?
Look, I’m a white, middle-class, middle-age woman, and I’ve never had a pumpkin-spiced latte. Not once.
Compare and Share
It’s so hard to accept the fact we’re mostly spineless clots of humanity, isn’t it? I mean how do you accept that if it had not been for your poor choice in a career as a Gender Studies teacher, you could have been as wealthy as Penelope Plentiful? You cast aspersions upon her of course. You feel better about you because you have convinced someone else that Penelope abuses her children and goes out on her husband.
We convince ourselves, as we drive around town in what are basically houses on wheels, that we are so much better than those poor people in farm trucks and beat up sedans.
Grow Up and Stand Up
We all need to realize we are no different than anyone else. We all feel pain, regret, sorrow, doubt, fear, depression, and an insatiable need to lick the aluminum top of the frosting can when we open it. Maybe that one is just me. Anyways, realize this isn’t high school. Accept responsibility for your choices, be grateful for your circumstances, and more importantly, stop throwing rocks at other people’s homes. Just clean the glass in your own house.
Kim Hamlin is a writer, information junkie, and loves research almost as much as cheese. She lives in Lexington with some Shih-Tzus, a cat named Diana, and a guy named Steve. She’s on X (Twitter) and LinkedIn as Kim Hamlin. https://about.me/kimhamlin