Everyone likes to think they're right. Everyone likes to be told they're right. If you know me at all you know that I am one of those people and will try my best to convince you that I am indeed right. Despite this, I have also learned how useful it is to listen to others and learn about the way they see and view things.

What makes each person unique is based on their previous experiences and how they shape and view the world. This is why I now try and listen to what other people have to say. Growing up as a middle child I was put into an interesting position of either stepping up and being more mature to hang out with the older kids or letting my childish ways roam and hanging out with the younger kids. Either way, I was left slightly uncomfortable and awkward so I often just decided to hang around my parents and sit quietly and listen. Listen and learn. Listening to all of their different opinions and views about topics always had me interested and waiting to hear more.

I wouldn't say that I am the most textbook smart, if you will, gal out there. That most of my knowledge that has pushed me through life and let me shine in the world is the things I have learned outside the textbooks just by listening. Letting my mind be constantly open to learning. Therefore I am thankful that I learned what a useful skill listening and keeping an open mind truly is.

In today's society, I think that this skill has become less prevalent. That, someone, must always be right. That someone must win and that there can be no such thing as ties or middle ground. Which makes me sad in that we can learn so much from each other. That each mind holds so much knowledge waiting to be shared and that also each mind is waiting to grab on to new information. I truly believe that you are doing yourself a disservice by blocking out the opinions of others.

Keeping an open mind about people and the world around you can benefit your overall happiness. I have written about how truly important it is to keep a positive outlook on life is and how much it adds to your life and this goes hand in hand. It is not beneficial to your life to be closed minded about the world living around you. Be open and willing to add to the fostering and growth of the world instead. You will be surprised about things you learn and what that new knowledge could do for you and your life.