Retrospective

I try my best to keep my mind in the present (or the future), because getting lost in your own history isn't helpful if you're trying to move beyond it. I was a different kind of person when I was younger, and I would hate for someone to judge me by that standard now. I try to avoid doing that to others as well. But I can't help that the past remains relevant. 

Reflecting on the person you used to be and who you are now can give you insight into what others are going through. We've all been immature. Some of us have moved past it. Some of us still have work to do. I don't want to pretend to take the high ground here, because nobody is finished growing.

If someone you know is still in progress, I think you owe them your sympathy. I think you owe them your good faith, and the benefit of the doubt. Because someone probably gave that to you when you were in that position. And if they didn't, wouldn't it have helped if someone did?

On the other hand, some people aren't ready to be helped. You can reach out all you want, but they're just not in a place where they can grow. And some people are just small. Try as you might, they just won't listen. They're stuck in their patterns.

Once you've made your attempt at discourse, you don't owe them anything else. You've made your good-faith attempt to influence their lives, and all you can do is wait for them to catch up, if they ever will. All you can really do is try to better yourself and hope they see you as a good example. 

My point is, be open and understanding to people. But if they don't want to listen, that's not your burden to carry.