Our generation gets hated on for lots of things these days. If you were to ask your grandparents what they think of kids today they would probably say we are lazy, dependent on technology or something of that nature. This may be true of some people and untrue of others. Some of my peers are the hardest working people I know and the term “lazy” is the last thing I would think of when I think of them while others I could see it applying to. Some of my peers hate technology, still have a flip phone and buy the paper copy of all of their text books. “Dependent on technology” is the last thing I would think of when I think of them, yet others barely look up from their iPhone screen long enough to order food at the restaurant. These two characteristics seem applicable on a case by case basis. What I do think is a characteristic of “today’s kids” that holds true in more than the majority of cases is that we are selfish. I’m guilty of it. It is so much more favorable to put our needs first, but this is where we run into issues.

Because we are selfish, we feel entitled and we act hypocritically. We feel that the world owes us something and we deserve everything in the world but others don’t. “I know I have 28 items and the checkout line says 20 items or less but it's fine — they can make an exception for me.”

“My views and opinions are very important and I have the right to believe what I want, but the second someone has an opposing view point I’m going to call them intolerant and closed minded.”

“I’m in a really big hurry and I’m going to be late so I’m going to cut this person off/cut them in line/ walk directly in front of them because I need to get somewhere first.”

“I know I yell at my roommate whenever she leaves a dish in the sink but its different for me because I am actually really in a hurry so I’m just going to leave this here for now.”

“I don’t like seeing this specific form of art on my news-feed so I’m going to post a comment letting everyone know I don’t like it and because I don’t like it, it should be disallowed on this Facebook group.” (Cough Cough photoshop debates)

We constantly act like we are more important than everyone else. If we make a mistake, its okay mistakes happen. If someone else makes a mistake, they are incompetent, a bad worker or dumb. I think it’s time we all take a step down off our high horse so to speak and realize that we aren’t as important as we think we are.

What if we treated each other with a little bit of compassion instead? What if instead of speeding up to cut off a car to slam on our breaks at the red light so that we can be first when the light turns green, we just let the car in front of us do its thing. What if when we see a post on Facebook that we don’t want to see we keep scrolling? What if when someone has a view that’s different from yours you say “I respect your views and beliefs just like I want you to respect mine”? What if we treated others how we would want to be treated?

I want to challenge ya’ll to think of others before you act. Do things with other people in mind. Do a random act of kindness. Compliment the person next to you. Give someone the benefit of the doubt. Realize the world is so much bigger than just you.

The Bible tells us, “do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others” Philippians 2: 3-4

I’m not saying this will be easy, but it will leave you feeling fulfilled and with a full heart.