Strangers are what friends are made of. - Cullen Hightower

Good Morning Digital Neighbors! All friends, with the exception of family friendships, all started as strangers. I never rule out friendships being formed with anyone I might meet, in real life or even through mediums like this. That strange mixture of familiar and different is what makes friendship so interesting. While there can be deep bonds between people who literally mirror each other in attitude, interest and experience, I think those type of friendships are rare or if they are more common it is because of the superficial nature of the relationships that has not explored the potential differences.

Friendship between people who are too different don't usually last long in the current chapter of humanity because the readiness to malign, the willingness to categorize people rather than try to understand them is so widespread. Once you "ism" a person, you will probably be incapable of knowing them beyond that mental/emotional roadblock. You are relating to a label and not a person. I am not saying that labeling can't be useful, but the ready application of them is a real impoverishment. The maladjusted see the world in terms of labels and they will divide and conquer you to a state of loneliness and madness. You will have their company, misery hates isolation.

Mutual respect, a hesitation to gun-sling your pet causes or familiar perspectives & phrases will go a long wait to actually meeting people rather than missing the opportunity that may happen when your paths cross. Some people broadcast their crazy like a neon sign, paying attention to that is worthwhile, and if they are not operating on their cult programming you might be capable of meeting the person rather than the walking ideology. Rapid assessment helps in not wasting time with strangers who are beyond strange, but you can also miss meeting someone who has the potential to be a friend that helps you to grow the most.

*The free conversation of a friend is what I would prefer to any environment - David Hume

I am not sure I would prefer it to any environment, I love the solitude and beauty of nature, but it is my most frequent environment. I enjoy the world of engagement that my vocation and personality afford me. I do meet people I don't care for, there is a low threshold for the annoying and socially defective, but I don't find an abundance of them in life. I am sure there are some who find me annoying, affronting, or distasteful. You can't please everyone, but I don't make it a point to be offensive right out of the starting block. Of course if you come across a post of me dropping the f-bomb or ranting about the LEFT and the CABAL you might think I have a few screws loose or that I am too irreverent to actually be a priest. Fair enough, but I never assume I know a person by looking through one window of their expression. I don't assume I will ever really know a person, just growing stages of fellowship and depth of shared meaning. First impressions may be very indicative of their overall personality, but at the same time I might be catching them at a bad moment. Well, it seems I have rambled enough and I appreciate any time you gave this post. Not exactly a free conversation, but close to it as you indulge me. Happy Friday my friends and dear ADD Irregulars, I so appreciate our coffee talks and other ZOOM gatherings, they are some of the best conversations I share throughout the week.

Breckenridge CO in July