You Could Be Wrong, and You Could Be Right — or You Could Be Right and You Can Be Wrong
I once saw a cartoon that really made me think. Two people stood on opposite sides of a number written on the ground. From one side, the person saw a six. From the other, a nine. They argued about what the number really was. Both were sure they were right. And in a way, they both were. But that also meant each of them was wrong — at the same time.
This cartoon stuck with me because it offers an important lesson about life. Sometimes, we see things only from our own point of view. We believe so strongly that we’re right that we forget someone else might see things differently. That doesn’t make them wrong. It just means they’re seeing something from another angle.
In today’s world — where people argue online and in real life about politics, religion and even simple facts — it’s easy to forget that truth can sometimes have more than one side. Of course, some things are just facts — like math or science — but when it comes to opinions, experiences or feelings, the truth can get blurry.
Just like in that cartoon, your position — where you stand — shapes what you see. And sometimes, you have to move to the other side to understand someone else’s perspective. That doesn’t mean you have to agree. But even if you don’t, listening might teach you something new.
Where we come from also shapes what we believe. Culture, family, traditions — even our mistakes — can affect what we see as right or wrong. Sometimes, people grow up in environments where dysfunction is normal and accepted. They carry those beliefs with them into new places. And when others see things differently, that can cause conflict. They’re not bad people — they just haven’t seen another way yet.
We’re all human. We all make mistakes. Sometimes, we think we’re standing on truth, but we’re standing in opinion. Other times, we might be right, but say it in a way that drives others away.
Being “right” doesn’t always win an argument — and it rarely solves the problem.
So maybe we should stop trying so hard to win, and start trying a little harder to understand. You could be wrong. You could be right. Or you might be a little of both — just like the person standing across from you.
That’s life.
