Everyone is Important
I have always believed that every single human being that I ever meet has something to offer me. Same with those that I may never meet. There are also so many people that you may never ever meet but they still have a lot they could offer you. It is therefore imperative that every single human being be treated with courtesy, kindness and respect. Having traveled extensively in East Africa, the United States, London and Jamaica, I have met hundreds of people who have influenced me in many different ways. My approach whenever I meet a new person is to look at them as a friend and not a stranger. I always have a sense of excitement, anticipation and an openness to learn when I meet new people.
We live in a society today in which individualism prevails. People find it easier to ignore strangers rather than welcome them. We find it easier to not show interest in people that are different from us, work in different organizations, have different careers, etc. Even in many organizations there are people who treat fellow employees rudely, employees who treat customers with disrespect and even customers who treat employees inappropriately.
Recognizing that everyone is important means being appropriate with everyone. It means fostering community and respect. It means living above average and going the extra mile with those whom we encounter daily. It means smiling at strangers. It means genuinely wanting to know the other person and share the joy of living with them. I have had the pleasure of living the first 25 years of my life in Africa and the last 6 in the US. There are huge differences in the general culture. Regardless of culture, everyone is important and needs to be treated with the respect, kindness, dignity and honor that communicates their value as human beings.
