Sorry, man

By Nick Thomas

At the very moment you’re reading this, somebody you know is probably having a bad day. Maybe they’re having a bad week. And more often than not if you encounter this person, you’re going to say: “Dang, sorry man.”

It’s easy to tell somebody sorry. It’s usually good to tell someone you’re sorry. It lets them know that you care about their situation at least a little bit. But sometimes I feel like it’s our jobs to do more than just say sorry.

It’s easy to say that you’re “doing good,” when really you’re feeling the exact opposite. If people ask you how you are, you might as well be honest with them, especially if it’s a good friend.

My mom told me once that it’s important to care about other people, because if you shower regularly, brush your teeth and make good grades, then you probably care enough about yourself.

So the next time someone you care about isn’t doing great, make some time to be there for him or her. Really ask them how they’re doing, offer advice if you have any, and above all else, spend time with them. I understand that it’s important to function as an individual, but if someone you care about is in a slump, then what do you have to lose by spending an hour or so being there for them?

And if you in fact are having a bad day or week, know this. Prayer helps. A lot. It’s easy to think that we have all the answers and that because you’ve been on this Earth for 18 plus years, then surely you’ve figured everything out. But the truth is, it only gets harder from this point on, and relying on God will help you get through whatever darkness it is you’re facing.

So for those of you who chose to skim rather than read this article, allow me to sum it up for you. Someone you care about is probably having a rough time, and keeping them in your prayers and being there for them is a wonderful thing to do. Life is too short to only focus on yourself; let people know you’re thinking about them.

Nick Thomas is a junior at Oklahoma Christian University.

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