While most people are set in their ways, I have a different outlook on life. Most people have been raised to listen to their parents and authority figures, not to question what they know and to follow the rules. In my house, however, I have always been taught that arguing is constructive, that questions provide answers and breaking the rules sometimes allows us to see things in a different light.

I refuse to judge someone based off of their views, even political ones. Instead I ask why they feel this way, not to pry or be nosey but instead to learn. No one has lived the life I have and I have lived the life of no one else, which makes me open to learning and susceptible to new experiences. I am open to hearing from people, of all walks of life, how they feel and why. Not to prove them wrong, but instead so I can prove them right and learn from them.

Change is not brought on when everyone has the same opinion. You need opposition and you need different opinions to thrive. If everyone saw things the same way, there would be no change. There would be no knowledge to gain. There would be no difference from you and me.

I respect everyone, wether I know them or not. I respect you because you are a human being, a living thing, and you deserve this life as much as I deserve it, as much as the person next to me deserves it. Your race, your gender, your sexual orientation and identity do matter to me. They make you different, they make you unique and they make me want to learn more about you. It is your background and it is you. They make you who you are and you should thrive from it.

I refuse to believe that there is a right and wrong opinion. There are only people who can be taught more, whose minds can be opened more. I mentioned before that instead of saying someone is wrong for feeling a certain way, I ask why. And I have learned so much from just asking why. I have heard stories of triumph, of overcoming racism, of oppression and of success. I have learned about my peers, and I have learned about generations much older than me, just by asking them why they feel a certain way, and most importantly by listening.

Difference in opinions allows me to grow. It allows me to learn about my neighbor and to learn about myself. If we could really listen to what others have to say, we find out that people who are most different from us are actually very much the same. With an open mind, open heart and open ears we can all learn from each other because we all think differently and I think that is a beautifully wonderful thing.