Separate but Equal

Around the time of the Black Revolution, Freedom Fighters, Rosa Parks and all that, separate but equal were horrendous phrases. They stood for truly unequal circumstances and all that remained of thinking people were differnt just because of a few genetic variations.

Nowadays, however, I believe we should resurface separate but equal clause in the terms of relationships. We hate hearing that phrase. It hurts us to hear that we are different from any other person. But it has to be said. We are different. And in our relationships we should be treated differently.

I'm sure you've run across one or more of these people who believe everyone (but them) should be treated in the same way. They use the same tired phrases and words to describe everyone and everything.

Seeing that people can work together but not be carbon copies of each other helps. That each person is unique and individual and should be approached in a different way is helpful. Our relationships with others will improve as we take a step back from ourselves and realize we can't treat our friends the same way we treat our mother. We can't treat our dogs the same way we treat our babysitter. There is no one formula we can use to treat every person that is important to us.

Relationships mean work and if you're not willing to put in the effort, then the relationship will fall apart.