People

You know it, I know it--everyone is a person. Prisoners who sit in their cells, alone. Presidents who make world-changing decisions. Murderers who killed their wives. Frat boys who get drunk instead of studying. The founders of The United States. Nerds who sit on their computers all day. Telemarketers who call because it's their job. Maids who clean up disgusting messes. The terrorists from 9/11. The boys from Columbine. The victims from Columbine. The King of England. Sports Stars. Actors. Illegal aliens. Bums. Police officers. African children. Astronauts. The guy who works at McDonald's. The lady who is always walking her dog. Your school acquaintances. Your neighbor. Your closest friends. Your family.

It sounds stupid, I know, but how often do you stop to think about what it really means? As I go about my every day business, I see many people. The majority of the ones that I have more than a one minute interaction with, I have known personally for quite some time. I see their form and their face, and my mind begins to calculate certain things about them. Memories I have of them, what I expect of them, what they expect of me. It all works so naturally, almost like an auto-pilot, that I sometimes forget that they are just like me. Thinking. Feeling. People.

Every time you experience something that someone does to you or for you, think: other people are experiencing things also.

When you give someone a gift, to them, someone cares enough to think of their needs. When you compliment someone, to them, someone is making them feel good about themselves. When you make a joke at someones expense, to them, someone has hurt their feelings. When you lie to someone, to them, someone has disrespected them. When you kiss someone, to them, someone is being intimate with them. When you check someone out, to them, they are feeling good about themselves--or violated. When you beat someone in a game, to them, they are losers. When you lose to someone in a game, to them, they have defeated you. When you cheat against someone, to them, they have been stiffed what they worked hard for. When you do someone a favor, to them, someone cares enough to go out of their way for them. When you tell someone no, to them, they are being rejected. When you embarrass someone, to them, they feel ashamed. When you love someone, to them, they feel worth something.

Everyone is a person with wants, and needs, and desires. They have a body that sometimes doesn't fit, and a mind that sometimes is incomprehensible to others. They have things they like, things they despise. Things that are just a little bit annoying to them, and things that they can't live without. Favorite ice cream flavors, favorite colors, and allergies that make them sneeze. A favorite story, a best friend. A fear. A dream.

Think of all the joys and pains in life that you have experienced. Most of them, I'm sure, involve other people. People who have also had pains and joys. People, whose pains and joys were influenced by other people, just like yourself.

In the end, when you see a face that you are all too familiar with, stop yourself from the complacency of familiarity. Think,

"When I look into someones eyes, there is a history behind them. When I look into someones eyes, another person is looking back into mine."