By Laura Htet (UDE)

I HAVE a small, heartfelt wish. In our journey through life, may we never have to face people who are extremely difficult to get along with. And even more importantly, may we never become one of those difficult people ourselves. That is my simple prayer – quiet, sincere, and deeply meaningful. Be­cause the way we treat others, and the way we allow others to treat us, shapes our daily happiness far more than we often realize. Even the smallest interactions can lift us or drain us, and sometimes the tone of a single conversation can affect the rest of our day.

Many of us have known someone impos­sible to talk to — someone who refuses to compromise, who chooses conflict over peace, who never sees their own faults but can list every weakness in others with surprising accuracy. We have all felt the discomfort of dealing with a person who forgets kindness quickly, gets angry easily, and cannot forgive even the tiniest mistake. Their presence feels heavy, almost as if a dark cloud follows them into every space they enter.

When we interact with such people, our own thoughts begin to twist and tighten. Even a simple conversation feels like walking on a narrow edge, where one wrong word might trigger an explosion. The mind becomes suffo­cated, turning in circles, trying to find a gentle path through a landscape of misunderstand­ing. Words like understanding, adjustment, patience, and cooperation simply do not exist in their world. Everything becomes a strug­gle, even when it should be effortless.

Because of this, we naturally wish to avoid people who make life harder. But that wish comes with a responsibility. While we hope not to meet such individuals, we must also hope never to become one ourselves. The world already has enough tension, pride, and miscommunication. If our own behaviour adds more difficulty, we simply add more unhappiness to the world around us. So we try — imperfectly, but truly — to stay aware of who we are becoming and how our presence affects others.

That awareness begins with gentle, honest reflection. If we start to see that we struggle to get along with many people, if we often feel suspicious, misunderstood, or attacked, if we begin to believe that everyone else is the problem and if people quietly step back when we enter a room, then perhaps there is something within us that needs care and understanding. Realizing this can feel uncomfortable, sometimes even painful, but it is also deeply important. It is the first, quiet step toward real growth.

There is a simple story that illustrates this very beautifully. A man once walked around complaining about a terrible smell. He blamed the air, the surroundings, the weather, and even the people near him. Much later, he discovered that the smell came from a piece of dried fish stuck in his own beard. In life, this happens more often than we expect. When we constantly complain about everyone around us, when we cannot get along with anyone, when every interaction feels like a battle, the issue may not lie outside. It may be something we are carrying within ourselves.

Difficult people often cannot tolerate even a single wrong word. They insist on being right every time. They believe they never make mistakes. Their stories always begin with how other people have treated them badly. In their eyes, blame always trav­els outward. Apologizing feels impossible. Compromise feels like losing. Understanding feels unnecessary.

But relationships built on pride, stub­bornness, and blame rarely lead to happiness. They lead to distance. People slowly begin to avoid those who refuse to be gentle or flexible. They step back — not because they are cruel, but because peace becomes impossible when conflict follows someone everywhere they go. And no matter how lonely the difficult person begins to feel, they may still not understand that their own harshness is the cause of that loneliness.

On the other hand, people who approach life with gen­tleness create a quiet warmth wherever they go. Those who forgive easily, who listen care­fully, who try to understand an­other person’s heart, who are not ashamed to apologize when they are wrong — these individuals bring a sense of safety. Being around them feels relaxing. Con­versations become easier. Even disagreements become manage­able because respect remains at the centre. Their presence turns ordinary moments into peaceful ones.

Living this way requires softness, but it is not a softness that weakens us. It is a strength that refuses to rely on anger or pride. It is a strength that says, “I value peace more than winning.” It says, “I care more about the relationship than about proving myself right.”

This gentle strength is quiet, but it is powerful. It often speaks louder than raised voices ever could.

People who are too diffi­cult in relationships rarely find lasting joy. They unknowingly build a cold, narrow box around themselves. They close their own hearts without realizing it. And while they may believe everyone else is the problem, the truth is simple: happiness cannot survive in a place where understanding, patience, and kindness do not exist.

Life is not as long as we im­agine. Time moves quietly, and every moment we spend in un­necessary conflict is a moment of peace we lose forever. Just as we deserve happiness, the people around us deserve it too. When others feel anxious, small, or hurt because of our behaviour, it shows that compassion has stepped aside. And once com­passion disappears, relationships begin to crumble.

That is why we remind our­selves to soften. To speak gently even when we feel frustrated. To listen even when we disagree. To understand, even when it takes effort. To forgive — not because the past can change, but because our heart needs room to breathe. We practice gratitude for even the smallest things. And when we make mistakes — and we all will — we try not to let pride silence our apology.

Let us not become people who are too difficult to deal with. Let us not be the reason some­one else feels afraid, stressed, or unwelcome. Instead, let us be the kind of people whose pres­ence brings comfort and steadi­ness. Let us be people who carry calmness into stressful moments and kindness into uncomfortable ones.

A gentle way of relating to the world has the power to transform not only our own lives, but also the lives of the people around us. A soft voice can calm a storm. A sincere apology can mend a broken connection. A moment of understanding can stop a cycle of conflict that might have continued for years.

We cannot control everything that happens, but we can control how we respond. We can control the kind of person we choose to become. And if we choose gentle­ness — if we choose understand­ing, patience, and humility – we create a circle of peace around us. Life becomes lighter. Rela­tionships grow stronger. Happi­ness becomes easier to reach. And that, perhaps, is one of the most meaningful gifts we can offer — to ourselves, and to the world we move through each day.