There is always more to the story

There is a sort of “humbling” about people as a whole… how layered and intricate we all are, how quickly we form (often inaccurate) opinions of one another, and how much we miss when we don’t stop to take a proper, close look. I often find myself sitting in a space or place just observing… the energy, the body language, the tone, the interactions. Not in a creepy or nosy way, lol (well, it isn’t for me anyway haha) – just a deep and genuine curious part of me that has always been a bit fascinated with human behaviour.

Every single day, we cross paths and brush shoulders with people… some we know, some we don’t, and each moment is its own little exchange. Sometimes warm. Sometimes weird. Sometimes hurtful. But each and every one has a small story to tell or a lesson to teach… whether we realise it or not, we take something away from those interactions, even the subtle ones.

And let’s be honest… we all judge, even when we don’t mean to. A look, a comment, a snap opinion based on how someone dresses or speaks or carries themselves. So much of what we “assume” about people comes from a place inside ourselves… our own discomforts, insecurities or past experiences.

I have seen firsthand how quickly someone can be made to feel small and it has happened to me plenty too… Like their natural expression, whether it’s in their clothes, their voice, their presence… whatever - is too much, or not enough. I’ve felt that too, over the years. And it always leaves me asking: why do we do this to one another?

Most of the time it comes down to control or insecurity. It’s easier to tear someone else down than to confront the parts of ourselves we haven’t made peace with yet. But that doesn’t make it right and it definitely doesn’t make it ok.

I’m not guilt free either. I have caught myself in moments of judgement, moments where I’ve let my own stuff project outward. But what matters is what you do with that awareness. Over the years I have made a conscious effort to catch those moments and hold myself accountable, because unchecked/unattended insecurity can very quickly turn a person into someone they don’t really want to be... and I know I don’t want to be that person. I don’t think any of us do, really.

As we get older, our lives tend to settle a bit. We choose quieter spaces, safer circles, deeper connections. But every now and again, life throws you into a situation that reminds you how brutal the world can still be…how easy it is for someone’s light to be dimmed just to make someone else feel more in control.

And honestly? I don’t have the capacity for that kind of energy anymore. Life’s too short, and I’ve worked too hard to find my voice and wear my details with confidence. Just like we should all be able to. We are all entitled to exist, express, and evolve in our own way, without being cut down in the process.

There’s this quote I love: “You are unique – just like everybody else.” A cheeky little paradox, but true nonetheless. We are all navigating this messy and often crazy thing called life, doing the best we can with what we’ve got. And that deserves a bit more grace from all angels in my opinion. The real masterpiece in someone isn’t their outfit, or their hairstyle, or even the words that leave their mouth. It’s in the layers. The scars that shaped the story.