everyone's got one these days.

So after much thinking and listening, crying, wondering, talking, pondering, this is what I've learned, the conclusion I've come to.

Everyone has a story, everyone has reasons for the way they act (although, to be fair, no reason is a good one to act nasty). Everyone has problems, either worse than anything you might be able to fathom, not that bad, but still bad to them, or they're suffering is equal to yours. Everyone is dealing with something, whether it be stress, love, hate, hard times, whatever. Everyone is fighting their own demons, and falling in and out of happiness.

Whenever you think you're alone, someone out there feels the same way. The guy who just walked past you in the supermarket may be buying pickles for his pregnant wife, worrying about how he's going to support his growing family. The sad looking girl who was working the checkout may be going home to an empty place, with no one to talk to  and nothing to do. The stupidly happy looking group of teenagers may not actually be high like you're thinking, but may have just decided to make cupcakes instead of taking drugs.

You see people all the time, and you don't even know anything about them. What makes them tick, what fuels their emotions, what they go home to, what makes them cry or laugh all night long. How can you simply be content to go through life without knowing their stories? Curiosity is often discouraged, but ask questions. No one is really friendly anymore. Do you know what a smile could do for someone?

Also, think about what you say, and where you say things and how. Some things that might be hilarious to you are not funny at all, are in fact serious matters. So even though you think your joke about eating disorders/cutting/developmentally disabled people/etc... is funny, think again.

Just try to see, to learn, to listen. See the difference you could make.

Love from hanhan <3