other

Other is what I want

and don’t want.

I want the greener grass on the other side of the fence.  But am not so sure what it would mean to cross to the other side.

I don’t want to turn the other cheek.  I’d rather simply turn and walk away (or in my worse moments, attack).

I want the option of knowing the other choice.  Because I do not want regret.

I don’t want the other shoe to drop.  It makes me realize I don’t have control.

I want others to do unto me as they would do unto themselves.  But I don’t always want to be generous enough to do the same.

I don’t want to be treated as other.  But I also don’t want to be the indistinguishable from others.

Other is what I make of others and what others make of me.  Sometimes both are out of my control.

What if we didn’t see the world as a collection of others but rather a community of an-nothers?  Not the same, but members of a shared humanity – of a shared creation – richer, deeper, more wonderful than any of us can be on our own.

It could be beautiful.

It’s Five Minute Friday:  “Write for five minutes on the word of the week. This is meant to be a free write, which means: no editing, no over-thinking, no worrying about perfect grammar or punctuation. Just write.”