What makes one person better than another? Socially speaking, we tend to elevate those with a lot of money, fame, and or a prestigious position. Those people tend to be looked up to, revered, respected, and certainly treated differently. I have always found it intriguing how someone could be rich and famous and loved by everyone, yet without the money and fame, they are just another man or woman.
I remember working in a restaurant/hotel and helping a very wealthy man with his bags. I was only fifteen or sixteen at the time. This guy would not let me carry all the bags, demanding that he carry at least one of them. He also talked to me the whole time in a way that made me feel like we were friends. I remember thinking how down to earth and cool this guy was to treat me so well. (The big tip at the end made him even cooler!) In that industry, the help is often treated like just that… the help.
It is important for us to remember that at the end of the day, we all get up, go to the bathroom, and put our pants on. If you take away the material stuff, you are no better than me, and I am no better than you. So why would we think it’s okay to treat others like we are special or better than them?
I know a lot about health and wellness. I have spent countless hours reading and studying, and have personally cared for thousands of patients in our office. This has made me an expert. Being an expert, I tend to be a pretty good person to come to if you have a health related question or a health problem.
Let’s say a plumber comes into our office with debilitating back pain. I could walk into the room holding my head high, wearing a white coat, and treat him as though I am superior to him. After all, I’ve gone to school for many years, I have an advanced degree, and at that point, he really needs me. That is pretty much socially acceptable (unfortunately).
Here’s the thing… fast forward to two weeks later, a pipe breaks in my house, and water is leaking everywhere. I pick up the phone and call a plumber. Guess who walks in? Yep! That same guy who was just in my office. But now, the tables have turned. I am in a bad place and am helpless, and this guy has the skill set and tools to help me. My degrees and knowledge-base are useless compared to his in this situation.
At the end of the day, he and I are two men who have certain skill sets that are very valuable in specific situations, and who both have vulnerabilities and needs which require the help of others.
Everything I talk about revolves around wellness. Diet, exercise, and stress reduction are the obvious things, but what about relationships, social interaction, and how we treat others? There are always going to be people around that have a bigger house than you, make more money than you, drive a fancier car than you, and look better than you. Those things can all go away in an instant. What you’re left with is you. Just you!
There’s a reason I don’t wear a white coat in my office, don’t care if my patients call me “doctor,” and make myself very accessible to my patients. I am here to help as many people as possible with the skill set that I have committed to. I can help you in ways that you can’t help yourself. But outside my office, I am just like everyone else and rely on people just like you for the skill sets that you have committed yourself to.
So, if you think you’re super special, and treat others like they are somehow less than you, you might want to rethink your behavior. There is something very special about treating everyone around you like an equal. Others may not have some of the attributes that set you apart, but I am certain they have some attributes that you lack. And I’m sure you are very successful in some areas, but completely flounder in others. Start treating others the way you want to be treated, and do it always, and watch your life, and relationships, improve.