"Be nice to people so they don't fight you."

This is what my twelve year old cousin told me today over sugar pecans and a European board game.

He's twelve. I laughed.

But it got me thinking. Honestly? People these days, especially the younger generation, live in fear that they are going to accidentally offend somebody.

This is no way to live. Why are we so easily irritated. Instead of joy, gratitude, thankfulness, and general person appreciation, Americans tend to choose the whole "my way or the highway" route.

Maybe things would be better if we chose to take the route of little twelve year old boys and just fought the person we disagree with. Besides some bruises and a busted lip, this sounds like an excellent way to hash out an argument with someone.

Instead, we just let our feelings simmer and build these multigenerational grudges.

Actively choosing peace is hard. Actively listening is even harder.

I think we need to simplify our problems and maybe just, I don't know, be nice instead of automatically taking offense? Imagine how many more friendships there would be in the world.