A great excersice to love 'strangers' is to create friendships. I mean, loving your own family is easy because they're blood-related, but when it comes to getting to know a complete stranger and to love them, that is a challenge. I've had many so-called friends who pretended to care but they actually just enjoyed when I had a hard time. Or they just enjoyed my company, nothing more. Let me give you an example of true friendship. My best friend K. We knew eachother from highschool and we've been friends for 9 years. The thing I love about him is that he cares. He sincerly cares about me just as if I'm his own little sister. We have a lot of different opinions about many things (like religion) but he respects me the way I am. And I respect him. We may not have the same vision for life but still, he inspires me and we learn from eachother. I love you K! God put all these AMAZING people in my life who all are a big part of everything that I am now. I learn so much from my friends and my surroundings. It's really important to have people around you who will be a part of your spiritual growth. If you've been stuck at the same level, same mindset for years now, ask yourself; are these people really helping me out or is it just 'for a good time?'. Imagine this: two people are visiting Amsterdam but they don't know where everything is. They keep asking people where they can find the right spots but they'll lose more time in finding the way than really enjoy what Amsterdam's got to offer. What if one of the two knew where everything was, he/she could be the tourguide and they both didn't have to lose much energy in walking and asking people around. That's exactly how friendships work. If you are not growing, you've probably been walking around at the same place for too long! It will cost you much energy and time and you will pass by many great blessings. Surround yourself with people who bring you up instead of down. Be around people who bring out the best of you. Love, Yin
A great excersice to love 'strangers' is to create friendships. I mean, loving your own family is easy because they're blood-related, but when it comes to getting to know a complete stranger and to love them, that is a challenge. I've had many so-called friends who pretended to care but they actually just enjoyed when I had a hard time. Or they just enjoyed my company, nothing more. Let me give you an example of true friendship. My best friend K. We knew eachother from highschool and we've been friends for 9 years. The thing I love about him is that he cares. He sincerly cares about me just as if I'm his own little sister. We have a lot of different opinions about many things (like religion) but he respects me the way I am. And I respect him. We may not have the same vision for life but still, he inspires me and we learn from eachother. I love you K! God put all these AMAZING people in my life who all are a big part of everything that I am now. I learn so much from my friends and my surroundings. It's really important to have people around you who will be a part of your spiritual growth. If you've been stuck at the same level, same mindset for years now, ask yourself; are these people really helping me out or is it just 'for a good time?'. Imagine this: two people are visiting Amsterdam but they don't know where everything is. They keep asking people where they can find the right spots but they'll lose more time in finding the way than really enjoy what Amsterdam's got to offer. What if one of the two knew where everything was, he/she could be the tourguide and they both didn't have to lose much energy in walking and asking people around. That's exactly how friendships work. If you are not growing, you've probably been walking around at the same place for too long! It will cost you much energy and time and you will pass by many great blessings. Surround yourself with people who bring you up instead of down. Be around people who bring out the best of you. Love, Yin
