"به چیزی که نمی‌پوشند احترام نمی‌گذارند"

This quote cuts to the heart of how people relate to things they personally experience. If you don't walk in someone else's shoes, you're less likely to respect their journey. It's simple: we value what we know firsthand.

Think back to when you were a kid and had to wear braces for your teeth. Before that, you might've thought kids with braces were a bit strange or even made fun of them. But once you had to wear those metal brackets yourself, you understood the discomfort and the effort it took to take care of them. You probably started treating other kids with braces differently, maybe even defending them when others teased them. That’s the essence right there—respect comes from experience.

This idea has popped up throughout history. Take the civil rights movement in the United States, for instance. When African Americans and their allies began to publicly protest against segregation, many white Americans who lived in isolated, homogeneous communities simply couldn't understand or respect their plight. It wasn't until people saw the images of the brutality inflicted upon peaceful protestors, and some empathetic individuals started joining the protests, that respect and understanding began to grow. When you wear the struggle, even briefly, it changes your perspective.

Now, picture this: you're working in an office, and you've got a new boss who's never actually done the day-to-day tasks that you and your coworkers handle. They might not respect how hard those tasks are. Maybe they implement unrealistic policies or set impossible deadlines. The disconnect grows because they don’t wear your job—they don’t understand its nuances and difficulties.

To apply this wisdom in your own life, start by putting yourself in others' shoes whenever possible. If your friend is stressed about a deadline, recall a time you were under similar pressure. Reflect on how you felt and use that empathy to offer genuine support, not just platitudes. If someone is struggling financially, remember times when money was tight for you, and extend grace rather than judgment.

Here's a relatable story: Imagine you’re at a family gathering. You’ve got a cousin who’s always complaining about their job as a nurse. You’re tempted to roll your eyes and think, "It can’t be that tough." But then, you remember volunteering at a hospital during college. The long hours, the emotional toll, the physical exhaustion—it hits you. You start to ask your cousin more about their day, listen attentively, and gradually, you begin to respect the sheer effort and dedication their job requires. You might even advocate for them when someone else dismisses their complaints.

In short, this quote is a reminder to seek understanding and empathy. To truly respect someone or something, you often need to 'wear' their experience, even if just in your mind. So next time you’re quick to judge or dismiss someone’s struggles, pause. Imagine what wearing their shoes feels like, and let that empathy guide your actions.