Respect first. Then question.

Respect and empathy go hand in hand.  In order to understand you need to try putting yourself in other situations.  Even if (and usually, especially if) your initial reaction is to reject someone’s choice, words or point of view, its best try to find some commonalities in order to relate on some level.  Maybe you both have kids, maybe you come from similar backgrounds or maybe the fact that you’re exact opposites is the only thing you have in common.

Respect is listening and attempting to understand.  Then question why, who, what, how.  You have just armed yourself to truly think for yourself.  Sometimes you’ll be swayed, other times you’ll be validated.  The best part is you have better informed yourself of the real world around you.  You’ve made appropriate adjustments.  You now have a more complete data-set for decision-making, problem-identification and solution-finding.

Respect first to grow.

-Dad