Give people enough grace

 People aren’t perfect, and that’s okay. 

Some people will annoy you, some will hurt you, some will make choices you don’t understand but trying to force them to be something they’re not? It never works.

What I’m learning is that loving and accepting people as they are doesn’t mean letting them walk all over you. It’s about understanding that everyone has their own battles, their own pace, and their own version of right and wrong.

 Someone might not think the way you do, or live the way you want them to, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong for being themselves. It just means they’re human.

I’m trying to remind myself that it’s not my job to fix everyone or carry their burdens. My job is to be kind, to listen, to be patient, and to treat people with the same respect I hope to get. 

Sometimes that means stepping back, sometimes that means speaking up, and sometimes it just means holding space for someone without judgement.

It’s crazy how lighter life feels when you stop expecting people to be different than they are. You stop getting frustrated at them, you stop carrying that energy, and you start noticing the good even in small, messy ways.

 People can surprise you if you just let them be themselves.

I’m learning that this kind of love acceptance, patience, respect isn’t weak. It’s strong. It takes more courage to stay open than to close off.

So yeah, people will disappoint, people will frustrate, people will fail but they’re still worth loving. Not because they’re perfect, not because they meet your expectations, but simply because they exist, and we’re all figuring it out together.

By Daniel ndung'u maina