Class Is In Session

I do not remember much of my school years. I attended more than a few institutes of higher learning. There is one aspect of my educational experience that stands out in my mind. I usually hung around with people who seemed to be like me. I always enjoyed being near other computer geeks. Wherever they went I usually followed. This behavior is not unusual. Most young people are more comfortable with those they feel are like them. We tend to carry this mindset over into our adult years. We seem to classify others based upon ingrained prejudices.

It is natural as an adult to try and fit in. We learn this behavior early on in life. As children we are more open to those who look differently than we do. We have not yet learned about societal norms at such an early age. As we age we tend to see people as fitting within various strata. We base these feelings on skin color, income and other factors. As we grow we make decisions based upon which strata we feel most comfortable.

We are not that complicated. The strata above contains those whom we try and emulate. Their lifestyle and opportunities are what we work so hard to obtain. Those below us are those that we look down upon and decide that we are better off in comparison. Reaching for greater heights has its own inherent difficulties such as unrealistic expectations. What I am ashamed of is looking down at others and thinking that we are somehow better and more worthy.

Many times in my own life I have seen those whom I thought were beneath me. It made me feel better about myself to look upon them with such derision. I saw their behaviors and told myself that I would never be like them. I would never do the things that they do. Yet every time I thought this I was proven wrong soon after. Each situation I wrongly believed I would never experience always showed up at my door. I became a fool time and time again.

I really believed that I was better than others. I was so damned sure that there were things I would never do or say. I made many bad choices and got knocked down a peg or two every time. I have learned the hard way not to take people for granted. We are all susceptible to the same vices. Prideful thinking affects all of us. Any one of us can fall from grace. We should be willing to accept the first hand from a stranger trying to pick us up.

We need each other. We are all fallible beings. You never know from whom help will come. When it is offered please take it; no matter their appearance. They may not dress or speak or act like you do. Their donation into the family of man can be as great as yours. Eventually we all end up in the muck and mire of life. Take the hand offered you and be grateful. Be that hand for another. Understand that we are all the same in the eyes of our maker.