I had an opportunity the other night to sit down with my sister, some friends I’m currently in school with, some friends who have gone off to college, and a few acquittances. We sat around a living room and talked about the past – relationships, jokes, fiascos, whatever.
The night was miraculously uplifting. We all laughed about things that really bothered us at the time at the time they happened, but now seem insignificant. As we joked, I picked up the perspectives of people who through circumstance or by choice, I did not know while the events were happening. The re-realization of my limited knowledge in those emotional times gave me a silent epiphany of sorts:
Plenty of the people we write off as “not good” are in fact only opposed to us by circumstance, not by their own choice or character.
In other words, some people actually are “good”, you just didn’t know it yet. Sit down with people you’ve never gotten a chance to understand. Reach across the aisle, retire a stereotype, and connect with others… or at least try.
I agree whole-heartedly. It’s nice to clear things up once in a while, especially when you’re missing out on things because of a simple misconception.