"Don't Judge Me!"

"Don't judge me!" That's what Britt said to me the other day after he tooted in front of me. He said it in good fun, and we both laughed, of course, because it was pretty funny. I mean, toots in general are funny. That's just a fact of life. But his remark got me thinking - has society gotten so judgmental even my ten year old knows what it means to judge and be judged? Wow.
On the one hand, I think it is good that more people are becoming aware of how judgy we all are. Because I will be the first to admit - no matter how much I try to be a good person? I'm judgy! Yes! I dislike bratty kids that take all the attention away from the good kids. I deplore laziness. I loathe bad customer service. And yes, I make fun of fat people (including myself!). Actually, I make fun of a lot of stuff. But more than anything, I judge myself and my kids and my husband - although rather than looking at this in a negative light, I prefer to think I am striving to bring out "the best" in us. Whatever the status of your judgmentalism, I know for a fact I am not alone. I haven't met a person yet that doesn't make fun of people. I've even heard a priest partake in judging folks who did something that hurt his feelings during mass. Yes, you read that right - a PRIEST.
It has become quite the joke, hasn't it? Our world is so riddled with judgmentalism the phrase "don't judge me" has become a punch line. Really, it shouldn't be a such a joke. I'm glad we are all aware of how much judging we do and that it isn't a good thing. Yet, we don't seem to stop. I guess it is part of being human, when you get right down to it. Maybe it is linked to that part of us that knows what is right and wrong and the values we hold, which are different for everyone. Or maybe it is that inherent knowledge that we will all be judged one day by our Maker - that is the scariest thought of all, isn't it?
So I'm going to keep on working on this part of myself. I'm glad I have a sense of humor, but I don't want to raise "judgy" kids (who will thereby become judgy adults). Like Britt's yoga instructor says at the end of class (the whole class says it together while touching their chest, mouth and head), "Kind hearts, kind words, kind thoughts. Kind hearts, kind words, kind thoughts. Kind thoughts, kind words, kind hearts. The best in me honors the best in you."