Don't Be Judgmental

Many have expressed concern regarding people making "nonessential" trips during this time of quarantine but there may be extenuating circumstances of which these critics are unaware. Perhaps, for example, the guy buying a gallon of paint knows he must keep busy because idle hands in the past have given him the time to relapse into an addiction?

If he's using this time to do home improvements, something that keeps his mind busy while feeling a sense of accomplishment as he avoids painful triggers, shouldn’t he be commended?

Maybe that lady buying bags of soil and seeds has struggled with depression and entertained thoughts of suicide. It could be that planting and watching beautiful things grow during this time of darkness, is essential to her. It may be her life-saving way of holding on to hope -- and that hope might be keeping her from a rash, final act.

We must remember that it is impossible to know just by looking at a situation from our small lens what someone is truly going through or how stable their mental health might be.

I know we are all on edge because of the extraordinary challenges that are facing all of us, but please don’t be judgmental of others. Let’s extend the kindness and understanding to those around us that we would like to have from them.