Loving Everyone? A Reflection on Jon Batiste’s Words

Recently, I heard Jon Batiste say something that made me stop in my tracks:

“I love you even if I don’t know you, because that is the way we should be together in the world.”

Those words have been echoing in my mind ever since.

A Powerful Statement

Jon Batiste has always struck me as someone who lives and breathes music and love in an eclectic, free-spirited way. His soul seems to be wrapped in sound, expression, and a boundless sense of connection. So when he says something like this, I believe he truly tries to live it.

But could I say the same about myself? Honestly, no. And admitting that isn’t easy.

My Truth

I was raised in a Christian home. My father was a Baptist minister, and faith and service shaped my upbringing. I was taught to be kind, helpful, and of service to others—and that has been my way of life since childhood.

But along my journey, and especially as I’ve grown older, I’ve also learned the importance of setting boundaries. I can’t say I love everyone. I do believe in kindness, respect, and compassion—but I’ve also learned that not everyone deserves access to my heart or my energy.

The Tension Between Love and Boundaries

Hearing Jon Batiste’s words stirred something in me because it challenged how I live. Is it possible to love everyone—even those we don’t know, or those who’ve hurt us?

What I’ve come to see is that love doesn’t always mean closeness or availability.

Love can also mean:

Wishing someone well while keeping your distance. Choosing kindness without agreement. Not holding hate, even if you can’t hold closeness.

In that sense, maybe I do practice a form of love every day, even if I don’t call it that.

Why His Words Still Matter

I don’t think Jon’s statement is a rule we must all live up to. I see it more as an aspiration—a North Star. Even if we never fully embody it, the idea can stretch us, nudging us to soften our hearts just a little more, to see the humanity in others, and to choose compassion when it would be easier to turn away.

And maybe that’s the real power of his words.

Final Reflection

Hearing Jon Batiste say, “I love you even if I don’t know you” made me pause, reflect, and be honest with myself. I may never get to that exact place—but his belief invited me to take a closer look at how I show up in the world.

Maybe love, in its many forms, is not about perfection. Maybe it’s about movement—choosing kindness, respect, and compassion again and again, in whatever way we honestly can.

🌻 Closing Thought:

We don’t have to love perfectly to live with love.