Knowing People

EVERY INTERACTION we have with other people impacts our opinion of humanit as a whole. Ridiculous as this sometimes seems it is uderstandable, there are reasons for it, and we can learn from them. Wed've probably all had the experience of a bad interaction with someobdy, an unkind, rude exchange with a stranger, a brief convrsation which doesn't go well. When its over, we might thinki something like: godI hate people. People are so rude, arrogant, angry, fearful. You talk to one person, and make sweeping remark about the oerall nature of huminity, of human nature.On the surface this behavior seems utterly irrational, but really makes sense.Other than our interactions with others, the sum total of all our dealins with all other people is what constitutes our general attidude about people. How else could we possibly do it?How could we learn enough people to form opinions without experience? We might benefit from keeping in mind the fact that in the long run our point of view,our attitudes about people is going to beat least somwwhat balanced, because it has to be. We will not find the human race either entirely good or entirely bad.Tere;s n need to plan in advance what the exact balance will be; that will take care of itself. It i to be hoped that for most of us, the human race will end p seeming not all that bad, and in fact, pretty good It is to be hoped that at the end of the day, so to speak, we fundamentally like people, despite a rather long list of folks we do not like, or do not like very well. Perspnally, i recent times, meaning recent years, y peronal tendeny is to have a negative attitude towards my fellow man, based largely on world events and what I observe in my life, my observations of and interactions with the people in my daily envrionmet. So, I'm struggling to keep it positive. Ithink its imiportant to do that, for the sake of happiness and sanity, if nothing else. You want an honest, reasonable attitude which tends towards the positive, the healthy. Oooooone of my closest hildooed, lifelong friends came to visit me, someone I had not seen in almmost tirty years. We he looked great,thirty years older. He has some health issues, as most people our age, but has led a good, productive adult life with family, career, etc,.andis now retired,and happy For about four hours we talkedconstantly,loud and fst, with a l ot of laughing, as we tried to begin the process of "cathing up". After four hours of nonstop talking, reminiscing and o forth, my throat wasvery sore, my voice raspy, and I as worn out, felt as if a thin layer of sweat and body oils had coated my skin. And we barey got started. Barely began the process of catching up, even though we made a helluva start. How my dear friend had grown and evolved! It was great to see, a wonder to behold, a joy to interact with, as I sensed that my own growth and evolution had been pretty good too This whole experience, I think has greatly uplifte me, improved my mood and overallattitude. Yay.