A feeling you may know too well..Hate. A strong word. A dark emotion.

by Matt Daniel Rush
(Sydney, Australia)

Hate. A strong word. A dark emotion. An extremely alienating action. The reality is; we have all been victims and/or culprits ... we all witness it, the majority of us just keep walking by, some of us stop and step in and more often than not, become the final victim. Why do we partake in such borderline evil? Why do so many of us put the majority of our energy into hatred, judgment, resentment and bitterness?

Why do so many of us settle for less? Is it because it's overbearingly easier not to care and pretend than it is to be caring? Are we that scared of being vulnerable? Is it that we're afraid we might care too much? Is it that we're scared of being hurt? Isn't that the risk you take to find the perfect one for you, the greatest friendship? Why do we allow our past to control our future?

These are questions I've wanted to know the answers to, but the truth of the matter is; we're all different, we all deal, function and live in such distinct ways that there is no right or wrong answers. It's life and the choices we make. I guess we choose a side and stay true to whatever it is we choose. But for me, I choose love, I choose to care, I choose to be vulnerable, I choose to be true, even with every broken heart, every battle wound, every scar. For if it weren't for these moments, I would never appreciate the great ones.

Hate. No matter who you are, it has affected you directly or indirectly, It could be right now. I'll leave you with this thought...What if we could live in a world where we step back before acting out in such a way that hurts another and inevitably hurt one's own self? A world where we choose to love, to have compassion, to have consideration, to care and possibly the hardest of them all, forgive? just sayin.

- Matt