We are all the same.

@Pose123 (21635)
Canada
August 23, 2008 8:58pm CST
We often compare ourselves with others, and when we do we sometimes feel that others have much more than us, or depending on our circumstances, we may feel very smug and think that we have so much more than they. The fact is despite all of this we are all basically the same. We all have struggles in our lives, we all grapple with loss, hurt and pain, we all share the same feelings at some point in time and often material possessions are of no use to us, the pauper and the prince become as one. Understanding that we all share similar experiences is a great way to recognize our own self worth. There are time when it is very easy to look at our lives and feel that we have fallen short. We have an inclination to compare ourselves with others who may seem happier, wealthier,or more popular and so we try to compete with them, but when we recognize that we all share the same feelings and struggles we know that we are all interconnected. It is then too that we realize that we all contribute and that others are helped because of us. By reflecting upon what unites us with others we develop a greater sense of self worth. Your thoughts and comments would be appreciared.
6 people like this
15 responses
• United States
24 Aug 08
Pose, you're absolutely right! We seem to be pulled apart by our differences, but if we look closely, we soon discover that it's in our similarities that we live. We are all the same, with minor differences in decor. Everyone's skin is some shade of brown - from almost blue-white pale to almost blue-black dark. Everyone's brain works more or less the same, so that we understand things very slightly differently (hooray for the diversity!), but those thoughts boil down to pretty much the same thing. We all try to participate in the eternal battle between good and evil, and most of us prefer to be on the side of good. We all want t live well, and to see our friends and families prosper. We all want to be better than we are, have more than we have, and do more than we do. To the extent that we act on those desires, we are more or less happy with our choices. Life is very difficult for all of us at times, but there's so much more that's good than bad, that we need only to do a little self-examination. It isn't necessarily that we compare ourselves negatively with others as it is that we compare ourselves negatively with our dreams. Those of us who sincerely want to make the world a better place, which most people do, must strive to be the best we can be. It all comes together eventually, and the positive drives the negative away. I'm rambling, but I think the point is clear. We are all truly brothers and sisters, and we must stop the sibling rivalry to excel!
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi cobrateacher, What a great response! Thank you. Blessings
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Aug 08
Thanks. I guess you can say I'm somewhat ga-ga over these things. In my classroom, there's a sign under the clock that says "coexist", A silver plaque that says "peace" is the pull-down knob on the screen. I teach tolerance every day, hoping to carry forth the idea that diversity is beautiful and we are, indeed, our brothers' keepers!
25 Aug 08
what make the world better is the desire to live a better life ,it is the power to improve our life ,likely cupidity is the root of evil ,in my opinion ,wo should do our best to live better and learn more from other people ,on the condinion that you should do that in a good way
1 person likes this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
24 Aug 08
Hi Pose123! I do agree with you completely my friend. We have a saying that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. However, even if I do agree with you..there are times that I can't help but compare and complain of my circumstance once in awhile especially when I feel so down. I have been the kind of person who is accepting with what life has to offer but that does not mean I am a laid back person. I do what I feel is best and try to do everything that seems to be right and good in order for me and my family to have a good and comfortable life. There are times that I wonder why I have to be always struggling but at the end of the day, I have this gratitude in my heart that I have peace and content resting within me somehow. Take care always..God Bless!
2 people like this
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
25 Aug 08
Hi pengjiechina! I do agree with you too. Take care always..God bless you Pengjie!
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi faith, Thank you for your thoughts on this. I'm sure we all compare and complain sometimes, that' just another way in which we are the same. Blessings.
1 person likes this
25 Aug 08
i do agree with you too ,not everyone can make their dreams come true ,although we shouldnot give up ,do what we think is right ,we should work a amazing way we like ,whoever youare ,just stand up ,go ahead
2 people like this
@Rozie37 (15499)
• Turkmenistan
24 Aug 08
This is my philosophy, I do not know what a person has gone through to get to where they are, or what they will have to endure before leaving this earth. So there is no need for me to be jealous of them. There are many people who pretend very well. They will have you to believe that life has been easy for them, that nothing ever bothers them, and that they have no concerns for the future. But you can be sure that none of these things are ever true.
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi Rozie, Thanks for commenting and I'm sure that you are right. Blessings.
• United States
24 Aug 08
This is a great discussion and there are so many points of view when it comes to comparing ourselves to others. I can say this, I have friends who are well to do and are not all that happy, yet they have the ability to go on vacations (nice ones at that), can have children and just be happy each and every day. I am one however, who has had a problem since graduating from college who has had the innate ability to finding the right kind of job or career to keep me moving and to keep me happy. I am also one that is not really concerned about his own personal happiness, but doing what he can to keep his wife happy as well as others in my family. I am writing this response at a time that I am unemployed and trying to find a way to keep food on the table, the power on and the gas going while we near the fall and winter months. I am also going to say this, God did create us as human beings which is the only thing that is similar among us all. This is the only thing that makes us the same. We are man and we are woman. We are adults and we are children. That is the only similarities that I can find. There are well to do people and there are people who are doing all that they can to just keep their heads above water. So, to say that we are all the same, no, I do not believe so. Consider this, a baseball player in the United States who only works 6 months out of the year making millions of dollars. Are they the same as you and me? Only in the fact that they are human beings. So, only being human makes us the same, not our financial standing or stature in life. Great discussion. Thanks.
25 Aug 08
i can under stand you ,in this world somepeople must workharder than others in order to have their achivements,some ones make their achievenent by their parents etc ,aithough we should maintain a good mindset to see ourself more clearly ,i believe that work in the way is more inspiring more get the destination ,we all in the way until we die ,friends ,go ahead
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi davebrown, Thank you for your comments and you make some very good points. Blessings.
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
24 Aug 08
I agree with you Pose...We do tend to compare ourselves with others..Just because someone has two new vehicles, a new house, a new boat or whatever else...doesn't mean that they are financially stable...They may be in debt up to their ears.... Everyone goes through the same things at some point in their lives...When I was younger I always thought that people like Doctors, Teachers, Psychologists..etc...were much better than I..Just because they had a degree didn't mean that they were better..Most of the time they had difficult lives... What we do to help ourselves can be passed on to those that may go through or have gone through something similar...We all learn from each other....
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi Feona, You make some very good points and I would certainly agree, thank you for responding. Blessings.
@lixiaos77 (1030)
• Shijiazhuang, China
24 Aug 08
Basically we are all the same. But we are different in some important way. The inborn genius are different and some talent ones can get success easily. The diligence are not the same. Actually most us are lazy somewhat. Those who diligent can make achievement easily. And the opportunites we may meet are different.
2 people like this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi lixiaos, Thanks for you response. Blessings.
• United States
24 Aug 08
Thank you, Pose123, we are all the same and we all bleed red. We should quit comparing ourselves to others and accept ourselves and everyone else for who and what they are.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
Hi rogue, I couldn't agree more. Thanks for responding. Blessings.
@shana123 (2095)
• India
24 Aug 08
I really dont want myself to get into trouble by comparing myself with other but my parents and other does it so it came as a habbit for me.. but since im small i have to compare myself with others in studies there is a positive and negative point in comparing in studies where by comparing myself it will be motivating me to study well and perform well the negative point is sometimes even out of hardwork we will not suceed when at that point of time this comparison will lead to discouragement.. so for me we have to compare with others just to suceed in life in the right way if we cant reach our goal we should have heart to accept it..
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
Hi shana, Thank you for commenting, and always feel good about yourself. Blessings.
@Mirita (2668)
• United States
24 Aug 08
Yes, in a particular way, we are all the same ,but I think that we are different when it comes to our character. Some people are extraordinary and others could care less for humanity. I think that we all have a responsability to make the world a better place ,and there is always time for improvement. Money could be a blessing or a curse ,and it depends on how we use it. We never stop learning ,and personal growth can lead us to success.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
Hi Mirita, I like your comments, thank you. Blessings.
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
24 Aug 08
Yes. We are all the same. As the good old saying goes, 'Life is Greener on the other side of the fence'. We tend to look at people who are so called more blessed than us with envy. We tend to think they have it all and we have it none. However, these thoughts are superficial as we do not know truly what's happening in their lives. When we look down at the grass we are standing on, we can see between the blades of grass and we can even see the dirt on the blades of grass. When we're looking at grass on the other side, we're looking at them from a distance and we can't see what's between the blades and we can't see the dirt on the blades of grass. From a distance, things tend to look more beautiful as we are myopic in the way we look at things that are far away. This is somewhat like life. We see others as being better off than us as we are not able to see their internal struggles.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
Hi poohgal, What a great response! Thank you very much. Blessings.
26 Aug 08
you are right ,when we see the achievement of people ,the hardships they go we don't see ,if you want to be successful ,there are not short way ,facing dificulties in life bravely ,dear friends
@ajrox1810 (992)
• India
24 Aug 08
That's absolutely correct Pose 123. We all compare ourselves to the wealthy or the poor, maybe it's a Universal Law or something.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi ajrox, Thanks for your comment - maybe you're right. Blessings.
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
24 Aug 08
This discussion is so cool, Pose, and it couldn't have come at a better timing in my life. I so feel that in this world, no one will be happy with anything and will always have something to say about others. It could also be me, and I used to be guilty of that. I used to be talking behind people's back and not caring about the consequences of what that person might feel but after a few years going through hardships in life and etc, I started to buck up and have learned to be more tolerant and to accept everyone as being unique and special in their own way. If only people would stop looking for imperfections and flaws and just be happy with others all around them, then I guess the world would be a more happy place. But I know that it's just wishful thinking, but I would still wish for that. Perhaps someday there would be more people more understanding and tolerant of one another.
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi zed, Thanks for your comments. It sounds like you are making some wise choices now. We all have much to learn. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@zed_k4 (17589)
• Singapore
25 Aug 08
You are very much welcome, my dear friend Pose....
26 Aug 08
my friend zed,you just mentioned tolerance ,it's great ,in this world everyone live their own ways wether you like or not , we can't change this thing ,but we can change the attitude to them ,tolerance is important ,he make people more happier ,the world will be better ,if we all have tolerance ,
@Bluepatch (2476)
• Trinidad And Tobago
24 Aug 08
We are more of the same than most people realise. In fact we are all exactly the same with variations. So much in life takes us away from this fact plus there are so many things that tend to separate people its like a man-made plan of separation. It is also a thing of great internal joy to be interested in and see about the needs of others.
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
Hi Bluepatch, Great response, thank you. Blessings.
• United States
24 Aug 08
I dont see why people should just be them
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
25 Aug 08
Hi simplicity, Thank you for responding. Blessings.
• Pakistan
24 Aug 08
ok there wat u say abt pakistan???
1 person likes this
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
24 Aug 08
Hi bilaltariq, Thank you for responding but I'm unclear about your question. When I say we are all the same I include everyone. Blessings.