I’ve come to realize that everyone goes through different things in life, and we all handle them differently.
I try not to take it personally if a family member, friend, acquaintance, or even a teacher or coach acts differently or distances themselves from others. When situations like this arise, it’s easy to initially think you’ve done something wrong, which can lead to taking things personally and building unnecessary animosity.
In any relationship, all you can really do is ensure that you’re doing your part – being the best spouse, friend, teammate, and so on. That way, when things become rough in the relationship, at least you know it’s not due to anything you’ve done.
You can then give that person the grace and distance they need without feeling like the relationship is damaged or harboring any animosity. Even when interacting with random people in public, I have to remind myself that I don’t know what they are going through, and it’s important not to take things personally. This mindset has helped me avoid road rage situations and navigate other uncertain or negative interactions.
What we can do for others in these situations is pray for them and hope that they get through whatever battles they are facing, while remaining willing to help when asked.
FLY, BLACK BOY 