Stepping Out of our "Selfish Comfort Zone"

http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2007/sep/29/outgrow-the-selfish-need-to-exclude-others/

I absolutely love the way that Jeanie Miley often begins her columns in a parable-like fashion, with a short bit about her 3-year-old grandchildren. This causes the reader to see the nonsense in the situation, and then goes on to give the reader a reality slap, by relating the exact subject to their lives. Genius.
In this Christian columnist’s article, "Outgrow the selfish need to exclude others" she wonders if it is possible to learn from others that are different, rather than single them out or ignore their presence. She says that many times, children and adults alike need a "home base" in life- to be with a group they feel comfortable around.
I completely agree with her. When I'm in an awkward situation or I'm feeling out of place, it is always good to be around people that are "like you." In that same way, it is also natural to see that person who is different or being left out, and continue to leave them isolated. Why is it so hard to step out of our selfish "comfort zones?"
If I were to address a different audience with the same topic, I wouldn't change a thing. Whether she is talking to a different race or an older age group, she explains her point in a simple way without shunning her audience or being discouraging. Looking back at my job coaching piano, I have learned a lot about myself by watching how the kids I teach act towards each other. It is always easier to put myself in their shoes, rather than the shoes of someone in my age group. The conflicts they go through in their lives aren't all that different from mine, and are often easier to understand. With children, so much is black and white. They don't overcomplicate things, their logic is simple, and they usually tell it like it is. By translating an everyday struggle into child's situation, the message is delivered straight forward and quick to the point. This makes it easy to reach any group of people in an understandable way. And who said we couldn't learn from children?