If it Comes in Threes... I listen

"Be kinder than necessary- for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle"

This is a quote that I have run across 3 times in the last 24 hours.  Once on Facebook, once in an email,  and once on a blog I was reading tonight.  If I come across something twice I tend to think it's a coincidence, but when I hear something 3 times in 24 hours from different places, I stop to think about it., ponder it, and ask what's in it that I need to hear.  

Okay... ugly honest here... when I first read it my instant reaction... "yeah whatever".  Second time... "you have got to be kidding me, no one has battles unseen like I do..." and third time..."okay Lord, I'm listening."

You see, this week I have been on the fence with the whole Facebook thing again.  Keep it, or shut it down.... I have always kind of  been the person that tends to think the whole world has it easier, better, and less complicated than I do.... I know.... blah, blah, blah... cry me a river... Hey... I said ugly honest! And...  Facebook tends to affirm that.  Everyone is so stinking happy, has perfect kids, makes beautiful memories all the time, is always in love with their spouses, going on vacations, looking adorable, and pretty much living perfect lives that mine can just never come close to being like.  Bottom line, I can get VERY depressed when I'm on Facebook.  So... I go through this ever so often when I think... okay... I'm done.  My heart just can't take it... this isn't good for me.

Grant it, there are times when I read things on Facebook, tragedies usually, that make me overwhelmingly grateful for everything in my life.  Unfortunately, I tend to lean towards seeing what everyone has going for them and where I feel like I fall so short.

Have you ever noticed that when the comparison games start, we always compare up?  The person that went on a vacation we can never afford, the parents who can give their kids things I can't give mine, the home someone has that I will never come close to having.  We don't usually think about the people who have less than us and are thinking the same thing about my life... wishing for it... or should I say, coveting it.   If that was my mind set, I would be a lot more grateful than I am.

Okay... back to the quote... (btw, I have no idea who said it... none of my sources actually put who it was by... they may be a whackadoodle for all I know... but I still believe there's some truth here.)

Everyone is fighting some kind of battle.  I think this is true.  Some hide it better, maybe even using tools like Facebook to hide the battles, some have hurts that they have no idea how to put into words, something wrong but what is it?  Not everyone is comfortable with the level of "sharing" that I am... just because they don't put it out there, doesn't mean they aren't hurting and struggling.  Honestly, I wish people would be more up front with the battles in their lives as much as they are about the victories... I think it would help people to feel a bit less isolated and alone in their "stuff" knowing they aren't alone.  I'm not saying FB is where that should necessarily happen... and  Hey... don't get me wrong... I know it's vulnerable.  Do you know how many sentences in this blog post alone I have taken out or re-edited?

I will say this... I have lived both ways... open and honest and alone and isolated.  I will always fight for open and honest.  And, in my journey towards connection I will remember that everyone has their battles, their Everests to climb ... and I need to offer up more kindness and more empathy.   Oh... and for now... stay on Facebook.