Lexi Heath

This week I used the strategy or better yet said the thought process that “everyone is on their own
path of life” to help incorporate the practice of nonjudgement. As someone who feels they have
always had a plan I think back to an opportunity I had my senior year of high school. I went to a
bakery which only hired released convicted felons to start a new life away from gang violence
and crime. Not only was it a bakery but it also offered free tattoo removals for those ex-convicts
to have gang-affiliated tattoos or just unwanted tattoos removed. A man gave my peers and I a
tour and asked us a question, “Have you always known you were going to college?” We all
looked around bewildered with a unanimous thought of “Of course”. By the look of our faces he
must have known, but his response stuck with me forever. He said, “Well that’s how all of us felt
about joining a gang or committing a crime. It wasn’t a choice, it was a path. The same path you
were given to go to college. But now we have the opportunity to change our path and our life
story”.
After that, incorporating the principle of non judgment has never been difficult for me.
Ever since that moment I have realized that we are all on a different path and some of us need the
guidance and acceptance to help us get to the path that is right for us. With that being said I like
to use active listening in my relationships to ensure a judgment free environment and allow those
closest to me to know that I am alway there for them. I hope that those closest to me will know I
will always help them carve their path and be there to guide them back even when they get lost. I
feel that there weren’t many changes to those in my life because I have led my life with this sort
of attitude for some time now. However, it has changed my relationship with myself because I
allow myself to make mistakes to learn what’s best for me. Without failure, you would never
know the true meaning of success. I hope I lead a life filled with mistakes and failures to ensure a
life I feel is successful and suits me and my path best.