Desirable personality traits come naturally to some people. Others have to work for them. This is not a bad thing: the person who kicks ass in the gym and meticulously plans the diet to stay in shape is in a sense more praiseworthy than someone who is effortlessly a slim and healthy eater. I have decided that one of the things I have to work for is optimism and good-nature.
I admire those who see the good in people immediately, and act open and kind, and are spontaneously interested in others. I however must work for it. I’ve pocketed many tools for a healthier attitude, now they just need deliberate use.
Thanks to video games I know very well that in interactions with non-playable characters you can choose charm or intimidation depending on which ending you want. You only opt for the destruction/ultimate power/unexpected loneliness ending on the second playthrough. You go with justice/unity/sacrifice if you only plan on playing once. As a genuine skeptic I anticipate only one playthrough, so I’ll make sure to choose charm in all my interactions.
Plus there’s always the out-of-left field approach for difficult interactions. My New Year’s resolution is an every day carry (EDC) one: I’ll always keep a pack of Kraft Singles in my pocket so that in a pinch I can present a slice and say, “Pardon, would you care to sample this cheese?” (People like cheese.)
Included: I have the privilege of seeing my favorite places undergo a dramatic transformation. In the summer I hack through overgrown reeking underbrush alongside the river. And in the winter on those same paths I encounter wide open icy purity, an entire river locked in ice. This is something to grateful for.
pseudoisaac 