You Don't Know Until You Know

There is an old saying “When we walk in someone else’s shoes, we gain a deeper appreciation for their struggles and triumphs.” – Unknown

We all have struggles throughout our life, some of them we will push through and come out the other side in a better place. Then there will be things we experience that will test us to our core. Eventually these hardships will improve, but some of them may be our cross to bear for the rest of our lives. 
 
When we are maneuvering our way through life's obstacles, it is easy to fall into " why me?" Of course, none of us knows why certain things are thrown into our path. Some may say it is to test us, to put us on a new path, or to teach us a lesson. Perhaps it is to open our eyes so we can see what others endure, to have a greater understanding and appreciation for their struggles. To learn to have empathy.
 
Augusten Burroughs once said, “When you have your health, you have everything. When you do not have your health, nothing else matters at all.” At any moment in life our health, or the health of a loved one, can take a turn and lead us down a path we never expected to be on. We never truly know what it is like to live with an illness until it happens in our life and having to walk in someone else's shoes can enlighten us to their struggle. 
 
We all have been guilty of judging others at one time or another. Unfortunately, it is easy to do if we do not take the time to look a bit deeper. If we did, we might be able to see there are circumstances out of their control that can impact their attitude and behavior. They may have lost a job, received unwelcome news about their health, lost a loved one, or one of many other tragedies that can come at any time without warning.
 
And today, there are those in our country, who want to disregard and deport people who came here to escape violence and cruelty. These people are not all criminals; many are mothers who walk hundreds of miles to protect their children. How can anyone be so devoid of empathy that they will tear families apart to justify their own actions? They need to bear in mind, someday it might be them they are after.
 
Remember, you don't know until you know. We need to open our eyes and truly see our fellow human beings. If we cannot walk in their shoes and understand their struggles, if we become void of empathy, the world we are in will not be worth living in.