This idea is from a book I read last year, “Big Ideas for Curious Minds – An Introduction to Philosophy.

If someone is mean or a bully, it could be because they experienced fear or hardship at home or in their past.

• Understanding why we might not be very nice to others can help us empathise with why someone else may not be nice to us.

• While understanding doesn’t make everything perfect, it’s a good starting point.

• Acknowledging our own sadness can help reduce our anger toward others.

My personal reflections include:

• Don’t take things too personally
• Forgiveness is a gift.
• We can often learn something valuable from the most challenging people in our lives. Sometimes, we may even be the challenge in someone else’s life.xx