Always.
There was a girl I was afraid of in high school - she was well known for being loud, obnoxious, bitchy, and mean for no reason. I spent all of my high school days avoiding her.
Several years later, when I was working at the factory, I was told I had to train a new worker - and it was her! You can just imagine what I thought. Grimly, I nodded, agreed to train her, and got ready for a long, hard night.
She quickly became one of the best friends I’ve ever had. She’s a little rough around the edges, but she’s one of the most lovable, sweet people I have ever met. I’d take a bullet for her.
Then there was the girl I was good friends with for seven years or so. She was great to hang around with, we had lots of fun together. I thought she was pretty cool, and we got along great. Then I moved in with her, and she made me her personal slave! She was so great until I got too close. The things I learned about her in that house were disturbing, indeed. This is the one I’ve mentioned on the boards many times before. The one that thinks she’s Jesus. No, really, no joke.
I surprised a fellow co-worker once. I’m known (when I’m over my shyness around people) for being pretty goofy, silly, butt-of-the-joke kind of person. I love to make people laugh. I give way to people so they feel good about themselves, or allow myself to be walked on (as long as it’s not detrimental) for the sake of someone else. Most people who only know me as far as that will describe me as sweet, but a bit of a “simpleton”. I don’t remember what had happened one day, but someone was taking advantage of another person, and I put them in their place pretty quickly and efficiently, without raising my voice. The forklift driver overheard me, and caught up with me during lunch while I was walking alone in the warehouse. He whispered, “You’re not nearly as silly as you make yourself out to be, are you?” I smiled. He said, “You’re a pretty smart girl. You surprised me.”
“Give most people a chance, and they’ll all surprise you, toots,” I replied.
And I think that’s true. At this point in my life, I try not to form too many ideas about someone I don’t know well. I don’t see the way they are dressed, or the way they act in public, or who they hang out with as a good way to judge what kind of person is inside. I ignore all of that crap, and try to hear them. From the nastiest person to the sweetest person, they’ve all got something inside that will surprise the hell out of you, if you let them. Good and bad.
But I love people so much. All of them, even the bad ones. There’s aways something. People surprise me every single day. Some days are better than others, admittedly. But everyone hides. Everyone hides. Even the ones that think they don’t, they hide, too.
