The roads ahead of us isn't always paved. A lot of times it's dirt and potholes, rocky and unstable. But I like those roads. I don't want a paved road all the time. I like to know that the shittier the roads I've traveled and made it through has built me up.
   You see, if the roads are always paved, you never truly appreciate the journey or the drive.
   I know it's silly to compare life to roads and driving, but it's similar in a sense. If life is good all the time, we can't really understand and appreciate the good or the great. Dealing with bad people not only makes you see the type of person you don't want to be, but also makes you appreciate the good people in your life.
   Same with living. Of course there are kind compassionate people who've lived fancy all their life and has never known hunger, but there's those people who look down on others because they're not as fancy living as they are.
   I grew up poor, dirt poor, have known hunger, have been with nothing but the clothes on my back. Been bullied, have been through some horrible things, but looking at it now, I wouldn't say I'd want to go through that again, hell no, but it's shaped me I think in a good way and I'm grateful for what the journey has taught me. Some people would complain about it, but I'm grateful. I'm grateful because I appreciate everything and everyone. I see people within and not without and that's how it should be. We shouldn't be judgmental towards others. We should really look beyond exteriors to see the truth in others.
   It bugs me when people take one look at someone without even knowing them and comment on their clothes or hair in a negative way or worse when someone says things about someone they don't even know based on what someone else has told them. I mean c'mon folks, you can't find something better to do with your time? You don't have to like people but you don't have to spew bullshit either. Life's too short for that and it's immature.
   We should be spending our time putting our differences aside and lifting each other up, not tearing each other down. Just be kind, it's not hard. I don't hate people, but I don't like unkind uncompassionate unthoughtful people.
   And more than anything, I can't stand when people blame how they grew up or the bad things that's happened or what people have done to them is an excuse to behave in such a negative way. Of course I can sympathize with people, but you choose the person you want to be, your actions are your own. If you've been abused as a kid, that doesn't give you an excuse to abuse others just because it happened to you.
   Just be kind in a world that's full of so much greed, selfishness and negativity. Appreciate the good. Even if you've had a bad day, look outside at the sky, the birds, look at what you do have and not what you don't and just be grateful. I think so often we tend to get caught up in what we don't have and miss out on what we do have. Just be kind, be grateful and share love. We need beauty in this world, be a part of that beauty.