like mother, like daughter?

people fascinate me.

we're wonderful creatures, really.

everyone is so incredibly different.

we all have different opinions, goals, ideas, and ways we've been brought up.

there is no right or wrong, really.

you can't look at someone and tell them they're wrong, and you're right.

but sometimes i want to.

i'm very opinionated.

but i'm also very open-minded,

at least i like to believe i am.

i guess i don't really know what i'm trying to say.

i know what i'm thinking, but i don't always know the words to say.

i'll try.

i had a conversation that won't leave my head.

someone said to me, "oh they've had a horrible life."

(referencing to a person i know)

it really bothered me.

i don't think you can look at someone and decide they've had a horrible life.

sometimes people have horrible circumstances,

but that doesn't mean they're life has been horrible as a result.

i know i don't know everything.

there are so many things i've yet to figure out.

but i do know what i know

and what i feel.

you CAN NOT judge someone before you know them.

[[[ judgemental ]]]]]]

something i think everyone can work on in some way or another.

we all judge.

even a tiny, little bit.

but stop it.

i've come to realize that most everyone is a good person.

most people don't strive to be bad

or mean

most of the time it's good people making somewhat bad choices.

we've all made mistakes.

we've all been judged for them.

everyone has a story.

a story of how they got where they are.

what made them the person they are today.

can't we just listen?

try.

please try.

sometimes i get these crazy gut feelings.

most of the time people look at me like i'm crazy.

once i saw this kid.

i didn't know him AT ALL.

i didn't know his name.

i knew nothing about him.

but i saw him and got the impression he was going through a hard time.

i thought he needed something.

a friend.

a hello.

someone to acknowledge him.

so i said hi.

i smiled.

i asked how he was.

i left from the encounter, not being at all satisfied.

it wasn't enough.

he needed more.

i told quite a few people how i was feeling.

"jasmine, you're thinking too much."

"you're fine, you're imagining it."

"you said hi, that's great! feel good about that!"

no. i didn't feel great.

i needed to do more.

so i got in my car

by myself

and drove off to figure out what more i could do for this kid i didn't know.

my friend and I got him some gifts.

something i felt like he could use.

we found out where he lived and dropped them off on his doorstep.

i felt great.

my feeling went away.

turns out,

this kid (who has a name, and i won't use it)

was suicidal.

i wasn't imagining this.

no one else paid attention.

everyone looked at me like i was

crazy.

thinking too much.

let me tell you.

i believe i made a difference to this boy.

i didn't judge him.

i've realized that people just want to be loved.

people just want to feel love.

everyone.

i challenge you to show a little more love.

be slower to judge.

quicker to listen.

quicker to help.

good people.

we're all good people.