When someone is speaking to you and they say "even you" how does that make you feel? Does that make them sound as if they feel they come from higher ground or are making themselves sound holier than thou? In other words, that prior to their statement, you were not included, but now, after some hindsight they decide to include you? For example, let's say an ex-husband says to his ex-wife as she is picking up her child after a weekend visit around the holidays, "Merry Christmas...even you" How would that make you feel? So earlier in the weekend he was wishing everyone he ran into a Merry Christmas, and now, after having just blurted it out, before he realized if his ex was even worthy of a Christmas blessing from him, he had to add "even you!" (Yes, I personally experienced this!)
Or what if I were to say in a conversation with you, even me...doesn't that portray a sense of "I should have been immune to this" sort of behavior, action or illness? That to a greater degree or extent, I didn't feel I was in the same field of comparison. For instance, "poverty can touch everyone. Even me." Aren't I part of "everyone?" By saying even you or even me you are coming from a place of ego. A place of separation where for some reason you should be resistant of the burden of pain and automatically granted or entitled to all that is good, without having to earn it.
To be even with something means to put yourself on the same level. You are parallel, you are equal. So if you weren't on the same level before that means you were placing yourself above or below others. People are not identical, but we are equals. There are no better genders, no better race, or no better age than the others. We all evolve at different stages of our life. But it certainly does not make one person better than the other. Our acts may differ, but we don't always know what a person's abilities, beliefs or values which are the motivating factors that drive our acts.
We are all included, there are no exclusions. I challenge you the next time you think about saying even you or even me, to stop and reflect as to where it is coming from and then ask yourself if you can leave those two words out completely? I'm sure your message will still come across as poignant and meaningful as you intend it to.
Or what if I were to say in a conversation with you, even me...doesn't that portray a sense of "I should have been immune to this" sort of behavior, action or illness? That to a greater degree or extent, I didn't feel I was in the same field of comparison. For instance, "poverty can touch everyone. Even me." Aren't I part of "everyone?" By saying even you or even me you are coming from a place of ego. A place of separation where for some reason you should be resistant of the burden of pain and automatically granted or entitled to all that is good, without having to earn it.
To be even with something means to put yourself on the same level. You are parallel, you are equal. So if you weren't on the same level before that means you were placing yourself above or below others. People are not identical, but we are equals. There are no better genders, no better race, or no better age than the others. We all evolve at different stages of our life. But it certainly does not make one person better than the other. Our acts may differ, but we don't always know what a person's abilities, beliefs or values which are the motivating factors that drive our acts.
We are all included, there are no exclusions. I challenge you the next time you think about saying even you or even me, to stop and reflect as to where it is coming from and then ask yourself if you can leave those two words out completely? I'm sure your message will still come across as poignant and meaningful as you intend it to.
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