Time to Ban Some Words

06/05/14  I was at an event the other day and politely listened to two people talk about how their friend was ruining her life. “If I was her,” one said, “I wouldn’t have done it that way.” The other person nodded and added, “She should have known better.” I thought back to the number of times I heard similar comments or said them myself, assuming that my perspective on life should be accepted by others. I think we often make judgments about other people’s behaviors without understanding the circumstances surrounding them. I wonder how our lives would be different if “should,” “ought to,”, and “if I were her,” disappeared from our conversations and thoughts.