Opinions are like butts—everyone has one, and everyone else’s stinks.

But tolerance. That is what everyone needs to learn a little about, and I am no exception.

I can understand people believing what they do and being passionate about those beliefs. I also want people with whom I converse to respect what I believe and how I choose to pursue that. I don’t criticize you for your beliefs, and that probably gives off the implication that I agree.

That isn’t always the case. I have learned that I have very unusual opinions. Odds are that if you gave me a list of three things you feel strongly about, there is a good chance I will disagree with at least one, if not all, of those feelings.

I am not here to tell you that I am perfect, or that I have great tolerance for other people or that I show respect to everyone—those who deserve it and even those who have reasons not to deserve it.

But I believe that I am a respectful person. If I see someone behind me when I walk into a building, I will, at the very least, half ass hold the door open and smile. I am not doing this because I expect anything out of this situation. I am doing this because it is the right thing to do.

I try, sometimes unsuccessfully, to be polite and courteous to people I do not know. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. What I won’t do is listen to you sit atop your mountain and try to explain to me why your point of view is better. I won’t say that yours is wrong, but you don’t need to tell me that yours is better.

Show some common courtesy and respect other people’s point of views. Who knows, you might make a lifelong friend from the situation, or you might just make the world a little better place.

That’s all I want.

Perhaps the old country artist Terri Clark said it best when she created the masterpiece “I Think the World Needs a Drink.”