Over the past few days I have been wondering why we live in such a hateful world. Why is it, that when people decide that they want to be themselves, they are ridiculed and shunned by parts of society? Why is it that people chose to act on their anger with violence? These questions are something that I have been asking myself now for years, and to be honest, I still am not anywhere closer to finding the the right answer. Or any answer for that matter.

Growing up, it was hard to see the problems we had in the world. I was sheltered from them because they weren’t directly affecting me. As I grew up, seeing the news lead me to believing that there were only problem in other countries, and that it was rare to have large scale attacks or acts of hate in the United States. But in the past few years, this is something that I have found to be completely untrue. For the past several years there have been killings over race, sexuality, and even for no good reason. While we are a free country, we still have terrible things that happen daily in the United States.

When these tragedies happen, I used to often find myself saddened by what happened, but still unphased, because it wasn’t directly happening to me. But as the years have gone on, I have found that I am affected more so by the tragedies that are occurring everyday. While I may not know the people that are affected, it still hits me and I am overcome with emotions, wondering how the family is coping and what others can do to help.

Let's be honest, it's hard not to turn on the TV and see something that is so terrible, it leaves you questioning what is wrong with our world and why is it so hateful? I find myself asking all the time, what can we do to change the world that we live in? The world that can seem so perfect but is in fact so shattered on the inside. A world where some people hate because it’s easier. A world where some people judge based on their stereotypes. A world where some people become violent towards other because they have different beliefs.

To be honest, I don’t know the perfect answer, I don’t think I ever will. But, if there is one thing that I know, is that maybe we can get a little closer to a better world with more compassion and understanding. If someone is different than you, try to learn more about them and understand your differences, and how that in fact, makes them a great person. Everyone is different, and our differences are what makes us who we are. The differences that people have should be celebrated, not acted upon in a form of violence or harassment.

I know this isn’t going to save the world or even change the way some people think, but it just take a few people to start something small, to lead to something even bigger.