Accept people as they are

I had a lesson recently at my cousin’s funeral in accepting people as they are.

My relationship with my cousin was a fractured relationship until earlier this year when I resolved to try to implement the tools that I write about in this newsletter.  I thought of some questions to ask him and resolved to listen. It didn’t go great, but it certainly was better.

Then he got sick.

Even though he was unmarried, with not much family other than my sister and me, there were many people at his funeral. People from church and from his playing tennis, his sport of choice, with whom he had developed relationships.

They all knew about his quirks and liked him anyway. I heard story after story of things he had done, his quirks and his kindness. They still accepted him as he was.

If they could do it, why did I have such a hard time with it?

I wish I had accepted him as he was.  Now it is too late.

Is there someone in your life who you find difficult to accept as they are? I wonder what would happen if you just relaxed and accepted them as they are.