Playing Chess

MY ASTONISHMENT WAS GENUINE when the eighty six year old gentleman, who has quite clearly despised me for a very long time, walked up to me at lunch and asked me if I know how to play chess. Yes, I replied, but not very well. I was so amazed to be having this conversation that I neglected to add that I played chess whien I was a teenager, but never played enough to become good at it, and that as of now I haven't played a game of chess in...well...decades. Instead I just waited to hear what he had to say next. He said that he recently came across a chess board - I'm not exatly sure where, it was as if he suddenly found it lying aorund the house, or something - and that he wouldn't mind learning how to play. Still amazed, I jumped right in, smiled warmly, and said: "Sure. Bring our chess set here to the senior center. I can teach you how to play, and before long, you'll be beating me, I promise." Instantly my respect for this old farmer, which had long flagged, was restored. A man his age, interested in, wanting to learn chess, wanting to learn something new! That behavior is a great model for me, and, in my opinion, for anybody. Of all the regrettable characteristics displayed by humans, among my leat favorite is the tendency of many people to prejudge others, to decidedto dislike somebody without any truly good reason. I suspect that nearly everybody has at one time or another been the vitim of such treatment; sometimes I feel as if I've had more than my fair share. But over the years, for most of my life, as I have aged and I hope wised up, I have learned that the best way to deal with this situation is to take the high road, the treat the hateful person with kindness, warmth, and respect, no matter how badlly he or she treats me. Its hard to do, but usually worth it in the long run. Almost invariably the prejudgmental one will eventually get to know me a little, I get under their skin and into their heart, and....hallelujah! One fine day the despiser of me no longer despises me, but wants to befriend me. Its happened many times in my life, and I have never regretted using this approach. So now, in this most recent incarnation of my "honey is sweeter than vinegar" approach, the old getleman wants me to teach him how toplay chess. I need to make the most of it, and I intend to. Again, I am very favorably impressed when a person of advanced years expresses a desire to learn something, anything, new. Wanting to learn how to play chess is in my estimation a laudable aspiration for an eighty six year old person, regardless of the fact that in this case the person , until quite recently, has despised me for years. I also conisder it admirable for people to change anegative attitude, and replace it with a better one. Your move, sir.