Lesson 3: We're all just trying to figure it out, so be kind

I used to have this naïve assumption that everyone I encountered has their life together, and I don't even know where this view came from. I looked up to my parents, expecting them to know what they are doing. I looked up to my teachers and expected them to know about everything. I look at the super smart people from work who are several levels senior to me, and I expected them to have the answers to all the problems. But the matter of fact is, nobody has it figured out (and that's ok, that's life).

Whenever we see people who have a smile on their faces, are "successful", older than us etc., we automatically assume they aren't struggling. What could possibly be troubling them right? They seem so happy, they seem to have it all! But mental health is a very real and troubling epidemic, and one that is invisible and can affect anyone in all walks of life.

When I was in the rat race, I was just trying to survive battling my own problems. And in that headspace, it was really hard to recognize other people's struggles. I just assumed people were fine, and that I was the only person with problems. It's a bit like if you're out in the open sea fighting for your life not to drown (assuming you don't know how to swim). You're just so occupied with trying to stay above water that it's hard to be aware of what's going on around you.

It certainly isn't a new development that people are generally struggling with one way or another, but I think FIRE allowed me to be more aware of human things rather than the day-to-day grind of trying to survive. I still have my own struggles, but it allowed me to put my head above water and see that we're all similar; we're all humans just trying to survive in a rough sea. That's it, it's not rocket science, but it took a FIRE for me to realize that. So be kind, because we're all just trying to figure it out.