When I hear the phrase, “We live in a “zero tolerance” world.” I think… I’m sorry, I just don’t think that works with human beings!
We don’t just wake up and change and become perfect. We struggle, we screw up, we make mistakes, we fall down, and we have to get up the next day and do it all over again.
I’m sure we would all be perfect if we could be. But we have to learn to tolerate our own foibles and limitations. And it’s often not easy. We get discouraged. If I throw out everyone who does things I can’t tolerate, I’ll be the only one left in the room. And if I’m honest, I’ll have to throw myself out too, because I do things I really wish I wouldn’t do. Am I committed? Yes. Am I determined to change? Yes. Do I like myself when I do something I don’t want to do? No. Do I still mess up? YES!!! And so do you!
Does that mean we should all just give up and accept bad behavior? Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die? Absolutely not. We have to hold ourselves and others to standards that keep us from totally disintegrating. However, let’s be gentle. Let’s be kind. Let’s forgive and forgive and forgive. Let’s start over every day and try again. Let’s celebrate our imperfect attempts to be better. Let’s encourage ourselves and others for the things we are trying to do. And when we inevitably do something wrong, let’s be gentle. And loving. And kind. And let’s remember, we are all human. So we’d better learn to love ourselves and others, because there isn’t anybody else, people. Rant over.
