My friend recently wrote about the intense amount of pressure that society puts on men. As a woman, we feel a different kind of pressure but reading his version hit home.

Where did we go wrong as a society? Why are men expected to be strong, handle everything life throws at them without a tear, be the breadwinners, and know how to fix everything? Why as women are we expected to get married right after you finish that four-year degree you may never use and start a family? To keep the house clean, cook, and do all the laundry? (Bless the man that marries me as my cooking skills could use some help!)

I realize as I have gotten older some of the things have shifted, at least for the women, but have they shifted for the men? Are men allowed to be emotional? Are they allowed to not be perfect?

Which brings me to how unfreaking kind our society is. We are all humans and we all make mistakes. He also wrote about how people are judgemental and I see it every day. If you make a mistake, people will write you off in a heartbeat. But, not just write you off, they will go and tell their circle, and then put it on social media, telling complete strangers what kind of person you “really” are. Yet, I can almost guarantee you they have made some of the same mistakes in their own life.

We are so far from perfect and instead of actually caring about other human beings, most people put themselves first. Whatever they can do to get ahead because that is the end goal, right? Why? Why is it so hard to be nice to people? To forgive, to allow for GRACE because we all need it in our life. We are given grace every single day by the Big Man upstairs, yet we can’t show it to others.

However, there is one huge benefit. You find out who your people are. If your so-called friend is that quick to turn on you, then that person doesn’t need to be in your circle. Your circle is probably one of the most important things in your life. Where all your positive juju and good feelings come from. What does your circle look like?

I feel like people come into our lives at different times, some stay for longer periods than others, and some stay for the rest of your time, but there is always an opportunity to learn from others, even if the lesson is a tough one to swallow. Just remember, you are in charge of the people you decide you want in your life. It’s been said we are an average of the 5 people we hang out with the most (or something like that), how are your top 5 people looking? Right now, Napoleon Hill is gracing my presence as I am nose-deep in one of his books. Things you consume matter too.

We as a society need to start doing better, we need to stop with the pressure and the expectations and let people live for once. You never know the relationships and friendships that may form from getting to know a person once the walls have been brought down. Now, don’t get me wrong, there will be times when mistakes are made and there is no coming back from them. Try forgiveness instead of bashing. Try letting go of the anger instead of keeping it inside.

For all of the people in your life, let them know it’s okay to be themselves. If they want to cry, cry it out. I love a good cry. For the rest of society….

Share some love, we could all use a little more love
XOXOXOXO
Casey