What about respect

It wouldn't be the first time that ambulance personnel who are occupied with a patient during a reanimation are bothered by curious people who obstruct them doing their job, or ambulance people who don't get past traffic because others won't let them pass. Doctors being stabbed while taking care of patients, policemen being obstructed while doing their job, Catholics against Protestants. Self- centeredness and aggression are becoming a normal daily event.

I think we all have examples. Whether it is at home, at school, in sports, on the street and in church. It seems to be a problem everywhere.

A lot of misery in this world might be caused by a lack of respect. I often hear people say:"we need to have more respect for each other", "children need to have more respect for elderly, their parents, and their teachers", "we have to make them respect".

My vision on respect is the accepting of the way of thinking, feelings and needs of someone else and yourself, without wanting to change something or wanting to solve anything. This doesn't mean that I always have to share the same opinion, but I take someone's opinion serious. And I take my own opinion seriously.

For example belief . I'm not a Christian, at least not baptized. I don't go to church, did read the bible anyway. I read it because in my work I had to deal with a lot of people who were dying. And if they or their family wanted me to, I read pieces of the Bible for them, to make them feel more comforted. And I saw the comfort it brought them, respected the fact that that was their way of living and dealing with aspects in live. Even when it would not be my way. A lot of my family members were/are Christians. Some of them judged family members who were not. It resulted in family fights.

I believe that religious belief is a someone's personal affair. We can have similar goals despite of ethnic group, including those who believe in a religion and those who do not. Therefore the people who believe in a religion and those who do not can unite and cooperate and respect each other's beliefs. Judging people because of their religion can create hatred. And hatred can cause war.

I think when we want to interact with others with compassion and respect; it helps to connect with the feelings and needs of others. If we only keep a certain distance and stick to what we think of others, we will effortlessly judge and manipulate, and if necessary use verbal or physical violence. But if we empathize with the other, we will feel connected and how can we use violence with someone who's a part of us for that moment.

Respect isn't something you can force on to someone. But we can develop it in ourselves and teach others and inspire them too. Having respect starts with having respect for yourself.

We can teach each other, learn from each other and use our common knowledge to make our societies a good place to live. Respecting each other. It's a start.