Life is full of experiences that shape who we are. Some things are easy to judge from the outside, but it’s important to remember that we can’t truly understand them until we’ve experienced them ourselves. Here are 19 things you should never judge without living through them.
Moving to a New City
Moving to a new city is exciting but also challenging, and until you’ve done it, it’s hard to understand the mix of emotions involved. You leave behind familiar places and faces to start all over again. Don’t judge someone’s decision to move or their feelings about it until you’ve experienced it, too.
Starting a New Job
Starting a new job brings so much stress and anxiety, and even if it’s a dream job, there are new routines and different tasks to learn. The pressure to perform well and make a good impression can be overwhelming; try to remember how tough it is to start over in a new environment.
Living with a Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic illness changes every aspect of life. Times of India states that appearances can be deceptive, so there is constant pain, fatigue, and other symptoms. While being completely draining, it can sometimes be invisible. Be kind and understanding; everyone’s struggle is different.
Being Unemployed
Being unemployed is a tough situation that can happen to anyone, and the stress of not having a job, worrying about paying bills, and searching for new jobs is huge. People often judge the unemployed, assuming they’re not trying hard enough; job hunting is a full-time job in itself.
Caring for an Elderly Parent
Caring for an elderly parent is a demanding and emotional responsibility. It involves making difficult decisions while the caregiver’s own life takes a backseat, leading to stress and exhaustion. Offer support and understanding instead of assumptions.
Running a Marathon
Running a marathon is a huge physical and mental challenge that requires months of training. People might think it’s just about running, but it’s so much more than that; it’s a personal journey of pushing limits and achieving goals. Unless you’ve run a marathon, it’s hard to understand the commitment and effort involved.
Going Through a Divorce
Going through a divorce is the end of a significant relationship and brings a mix of emotions like sadness, anger, and relief. There are legal battles, custody issues, and the challenge of starting over. Offer compassion and understanding; everyone’s journey through divorce is unique.
Learning a New Language
Learning a new language takes time, practice, and patience to become fluent. The process involves making mistakes and feeling frustrated, but it also involves experiencing the joy of understanding and communicating in a new way. Appreciate the effort and dedication it takes to learn something new.
Raising a Child
Raising a child is one of the most demanding and rewarding jobs out there but every child is unique, and parenting comes with its own challenges and joys. Today suggests keeping your opinions to yourself if you haven’t got kids, it’s best to offer support and understanding rather than criticism.
Battling Addiction
Battling addiction is an incredibly tough journey. It’s a struggle that affects every part of life, with recovery being a long and difficult process that is often full of setbacks. People often judge those with addictions harshly, but it’s a disease that requires support and understanding.
Surviving a Natural Disaster
Surviving a natural disaster is a traumatic experience, and the loss of homes, belongings, and sometimes even loved ones is devastating. CPTSD Foundation says you should never judge someone unless you have been in their shoes. So, offer help and support to those affected, and never assume you understand their pain.
Starting a Business
Starting a business is risky and challenging and involves a lot of hard work. It is full of ups and downs, and it’s easy to judge from the outside. But unless you’ve started a business yourself, it’s hard to understand the effort and it takes. Support and encourage those who take the leap.
Grieving a Loss
The pain of losing a loved one affects every aspect of life and takes time to heal. Everyone grieves differently; there’s no right or wrong way to cope with loss, and unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it’s impossible to fully understand. Offer a listening ear and compassion to those who are grieving.
Living in Poverty
The stress of not having enough money for basic needs like food, housing, and healthcare for yourself and your family is overwhelming. It’s a constant battle to survive and provide for their families. Until you’ve lived in poverty, it’s hard to grasp the challenges, so show empathy and support.
Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is an exciting and life-changing experience. It involves getting used to a number of new things. The challenges of being away from home and living in a foreign country are huge. Appreciate the courage and effort it takes to jump headfirst into a new world.
Being a Single Parent
Being a parent is incredibly challenging. It involves juggling work, childcare, and household responsibilities all on your own, and there’s often little time for self-care. Unless you’ve been a single parent, it’s hard to understand the daily struggles and triumphs.
Living with Mental Illness
Living with mental illness is a daily battle that affects every aspect of life, and the symptoms can be debilitating. Thin Blue Link UK warns that it can strike anyone, at any time, for any reason, but even with that said, people with mental illness often sadly face judgment and no support.
Serving in the Military
Serving in the military involves massive sacrifices, including time away from family, physical and mental challenges, and multiple dangers. The experience of military service can have a lasting impact on a person’s life, and unless you’ve served, it’s hard to truly understand.
Retiring from Work
Retiring from work brings a mix of emotions: relief and excitement, uncertainty and loss of purpose. Adjusting and finding new activities and daily routines takes time. Until you’ve retired yourself, it’s hard to understand the full experience. Be supportive and encouraging for those navigating this new chapter.
Up Next: 19 Signs That Say You’ve Officially Entered Old Age
Old age comes for us all, though we do our best to resist it for as long as possible. But aging isn’t only gray hair, wrinkled skin, and yelling at kids to get off your lawn. Here are 19 signs you’ve realized you’re no longer the young stud you once were!
19 SIGNS THAT SAY YOU’VE OFFICIALLY ENTERED OLD AGE
17 Things That Are Too Woke For Boomers
Our society is so different from what it was decades ago, and boomers don’t like much of what everyone considers normal in today’s society. In this light, here are 17 things about ‘woke culture’ that particularly make boomers uncomfortable.
17 THINGS THAT ARE TOO WOKE FOR BOOMERS
17 Things You’re Just Too Old To Be Doing Anymore
The older you get, the more fragile you are physically and mentally, so it’s important to prioritize your well-being every day. Whether you still feel young at 50 or are closer to 80, we’ve compiled 17 things you’re too old to be doing anymore.