Day by day with people

So, I finally am back again. I should use this space more often, and I plan to do so.

The following may or may not be a valid thought, but it goes through my mind often enough that it is worth musing about.

I often find myself caught in a pickle. On the one hand, there are all these societal norms that for one reason or another define what is acceptable and what isn't. On the other, there's the individual personality, which is a unique aspect of each human being. And if there is some line that is between them, I have the hardest time finding it.

Some days it seems as if I get looked at like a raving lunatic who has enough marbles not to be committed to an institution but still makes no sense with what comes out of my mouth or what I do. Maybe that's my personality that just says "To hell with what society says to do, I'm doing it my way." Maybe there's something I don't understand that people are too afraid to tell because someone is just supposed to "get it". Or maybe their personality just doesn't take well to mine. Whatever it is, it confounds my finite mind.

Of course, I'm guilty too. I'm an extrovert, and an introvert can be easily intimidated by what can be a domineering personality. But the only time some people communicate that is to another friend. Same with opinions about someone that may/may not be well founded. And to these I say this: If you don't have the cajones to say something to my face, then it probably is a thought that belongs in the garbage.

Now, I fully understand why many societal norms are in place, particularly ones that enforce (good) mores. And the ones I understand I follow. But why does it seem like you have to approach people in a certain manner? Or, maybe more to my point, why do some people just not seem to be able to accept people for what they are at the core? In my Catholic-raised mind, any other human is a creation in the likeness and image of God.

There's an old phrase "love the sinner, hate the sin" that I think works well here. We try to distance ourselves from those who don't conform to what we deem acceptable. And we rob ourselves of a chance to not only see the good in a person, but to maybe even affect their life in a positive manner.

Perhaps this doesn't make sense, perhaps it does. But it's almost 1 am, so the mind might be a little tired.