Assume the best
Something that I have always tried to do, and that was drilled into me by my last boss, was to always assume everyone has positive intentions. At least for me, this is especially hard to do in the day and age where everyone communicates over texts, email, or social media. We lose out on tone, body language, annunciation, etc. I hope that most of the time I still assume positive intent.
Ashamedly, I must admit that recently something got to me. Someone commented on a post that my youngest daughter made on Facebook. The response appeared aggressive and unnecessary. Without much thought, I jumped in. Now, after cooling off, I feel guilty about my comment. I don't know this young man, his circumstances, or why he thought it necessary to respond the way he did. But my response was not one that I'm proud of and definitely one that did not assume positive intent on his part.
During my freshman year at college, I made a friend whose name was David. David and I became friends after many months of running in the same circles but never really talking. One day, we struck up a conversation and hit it off. He was from a big city, and I was from the country. David had never had a white friend, and I had never had a black friend. Unlikely friends at first, once we got to know each other he was the one person who I could talk to, and who encouraged me. One day we were talking about why it took us so long to get to know each other. I told him that he always looked angry so I was afraid to speak to him. Funny thing, once I got to know him, I don't remember him ever looking angry. My point is, had I assumed positive intentions, David and I would have become friends much sooner.
I've since lost track of David but would love to reconnect. He was the first friend I made when I moved away from home, and he taught me a lesson that I still carry with me to this day. Assume positive intentions from everyone. You just might make a friend and be all the richer for it.
Ashamedly, I must admit that recently something got to me. Someone commented on a post that my youngest daughter made on Facebook. The response appeared aggressive and unnecessary. Without much thought, I jumped in. Now, after cooling off, I feel guilty about my comment. I don't know this young man, his circumstances, or why he thought it necessary to respond the way he did. But my response was not one that I'm proud of and definitely one that did not assume positive intent on his part.
During my freshman year at college, I made a friend whose name was David. David and I became friends after many months of running in the same circles but never really talking. One day, we struck up a conversation and hit it off. He was from a big city, and I was from the country. David had never had a white friend, and I had never had a black friend. Unlikely friends at first, once we got to know each other he was the one person who I could talk to, and who encouraged me. One day we were talking about why it took us so long to get to know each other. I told him that he always looked angry so I was afraid to speak to him. Funny thing, once I got to know him, I don't remember him ever looking angry. My point is, had I assumed positive intentions, David and I would have become friends much sooner.
I've since lost track of David but would love to reconnect. He was the first friend I made when I moved away from home, and he taught me a lesson that I still carry with me to this day. Assume positive intentions from everyone. You just might make a friend and be all the richer for it.
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