I’m judgemental, I admit it.  I wasn’t aware of how
judgemental I have been until recently. I was brought
up to believe I was “special” (not entirely a bad thing),
and this can lead to a certain air of superiority whether
one deserves it or not.

Some people say I exude this naturally, that it’s not
in the way I look, act, or speak, but rather just a projection of confidence and experience.

Some people find this reassuring.  People with low self-esteem do not; they tend to find it repressive and intimidating (there, see, I am being judgemental again!).

I used to firmly believe that I respected everybody’s right
to be whomever they wanted to be, and do whatever they wanted to do, with the following important caveat:  “AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T HURT ANYBODY.”

I guess age or experiences have tempered that feeling a bit, we can insert “MOST” before who people want to be and what they want to do.

But more solidly than ever, I maintain the right to keep the caveat, and it has grown stronger over the years.  AS LONG AS IT DOESN’T HURT ANYBODY.

Now that phrase, in itself, could be called judgemental all on it’s own, as people are going to have different definitions of “hurt.”

I guess my criteria is, or hopefully, and should be, “common  sense.”

Regardless of our upbringing, when we become adults, we all have a sense of “right and wrong” when it comes to dealing with people, unless we are mentally ill.

I hereby give the entire world permission to live whatever life they want, and do whatever they want to do, as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody.  Especially me.