"We have more similarities than differences"

I had a high school teacher who told us this all the time. He was a general encourager of people to overcome labels, bias', racism, and rifts. Although he didn't always make the strongest argument, I can at least see where he was trying to go with this.

My brother is the perfect example. He never sees anyone for more than just human. He doesn't let gender intimidate him, he doesn't let age affect his friendships, and he would never not love someone for how they look or act.

When he was in kindergarten, I was in high school. One afternoon my mom asked me to go pick him up. After he showed me his classroom and desk he strapped on his huge backpack that hit against his calves when he walked. As I walked him out of the school we passed some of his little kindergartner friends in the hall. Not one passed without him saying, "Hey Josh!" or "See you tomorrow, Zack!" He has always been the friendliest kid you've ever known. So then we pass the janitor and he yells out, "Have a good night, Ed!" and Ed responds, "See ya T!" It was so funny! But even more than funny, it was admirable. The kid had only been in school for two or three weeks and he already knew everybody there!

He's continued to be like this his whole 20 years of life. Parents will bring their small children over while visiting with my mom and the kids will ask, "Where's T?" It's so cute.

I really admire that quality. I wish I were more like that and strive to be the more I find friendships in unlikely places. I guess it's true that we really have enough similarities to overcome our differences.