As train tracks stretch into the distance they appear to converge. We know the two sides of a track are always at an even distance, but our eyes tell us that the farther they are away, the closer they are together. Even what we “know” from the evidence of our own eyes isn’t necessarily true. Perhaps what we “know” about other people—that they are unkind or selfish or unfair— might be as much a function of our perception as their reality.
How might you see someone who bothers you in a different light?
Understanding other people with differing viewpoints begins with reaching out to develop a sense of community that extends beyond our own comfort zone. I try to look for common ground. It’s often true that the things we have in common outnumber the issues that divide us.