Sincerity

Sometimes people are different than you are. Sometimes, they react in ways you find offensive. Sometimes people are just who they are without any care whether you like it or not. Sometimes more often than not, I'd like to think I'd be less frustrated if people were more like me or something like that.

These are stories that I picked up on:

"A friend came in from out of town and she seemed quieter than usual. In fact, she just kept to herself most of the time we hung out. It was a tad strange and I found it hard to connect with her. It kind of bothered me that she wasn't as talkative as usual. After all, we were both not going to see each other in a long time since she is studying abroad and I am moving back up to school again."

"It was my birthday today and most of the people at work acknowledged this. It was sweet although I'm not much of a birthday kind of girl and wouldn't have been the least bit sad if everyone went about their business on my birthday. One co-worker in particular, not a fan of me, did not even attempt to fake a happy birthday for me...she said nothing. Further on that note, after everyone congratulated me, she still seemed unenthusiastic."

As I listened to these stories I thought to myself, why would these people react that way? Why wouldn't the friend from out of town muster up some sort of enthusiasm to make the last moments before departure something meaningful instead of being so quiet and withdrawn. Why wouldn't the co-worker just force a happy birthday for the girl just for the sake of it being her day to celebrate? Why couldn't they just do something to please another person if they didn't feel like it? It's not asking much is it? A conversation? A celebratory statement?

I will admit, at least they are staying true to what they feel and who they are. Maybe the girl was more withdrawn because she is sad about leaving and that is how she deals with things. Maybe the co-worker didn't want to say happy birthday because she doesn't genuinely have any positive sympathy for her. I give them credit for not faking or pretending. They are who they are and that's how they deal with things.

People are people...some try to please more often than others, exchanging their honest affections for ones that lifts others up and some please less, being honest with how they feel and not disclosing anymore affections than they can offer...is one or the other more honorable? I'm not quite sure. I guess sometimes it'd be nice if we'd just remember, yeah I've been there too, I've done that, I'm not real proud of it and sometimes I'm not quite who I'd like to be either.

Love,

C