There are Always Two Sides to Every Story

One of the most important things I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older is this:
There are always two sides to every story.
Even when you’re talking to your BFF and she’s telling you about a friend who is cheating on her husband; 
Even when you’re listening to your nephew and he’s telling you about a friend at school who hurt his feelings; 
Even when you’re talking to your husband and he’s telling you about what an asshole someone is at work; even when you yourself feel anger at and disappointment in another person who you are convinced is the root of all your problems, be they personal, business or otherwise…even then, there’s another side to the story.
There is right and wrong, true. I’m not talking about things like murder or child-abuse or stealing or lying to protect oneself.  
A woman cheating on her husband is wrong. But a husband who has cheated first and the wife is furious and in pain and does something stupid in retaliation – it’s wrong, but there’s a reason for it.  Sometimes it’s just too difficult to do the right thing. Fifteen years ago I would have been quick to judge the woman, but now I would wonder what happened to cause her to act that way. She may just be selfish, but maybe not.
When I hear people say things like “it was all his fault” or “she hurt me when she turned on me at work” I try to picture what the other person in the story might be saying or thinking.  Because nothing is as simple as he said/she said or he did/she did.
Ah, youth. We were all so sure of ourselves when we’re young, sure that we understand things that, in truth, we don’t. 
It takes years of being shown, over and over, that there is so much more to the story than “she/he done me wrong,” doesn’t it.?
And if someone reaching the age of 40 without understanding that the world is filled with not black and white absolutes but gradations of grays that temper every situation, then they have much bigger problems than hurt feelings.
I’ve learned a lot about people in my 38 years, but this is one thing I always fall back on. 
Yes, your story sucks. But what about the other guy? 
And just in case you’re wondering, this doesn’t make me less of a friend – in fact I think at times it makes me a better one. I hear what’s being said, but I also hear what isn’t. 
And often, those are the most important words of all.