HOW DON'T YOU KNOW ME?

I have always been a transparent person. When you see me, you see everything I am, because I have nothing to be ashamed of. I have had shameful moments in my past, and I have done things that I would have changed given different circumstances or life experiences, but those same life experiences and circumstances, and my reactions to them have all made me believe what I believe today about the world around me. And I have no problem expressing my feelings about those beliefs or how I view the world around me. One chief way I try to do this is by writing this blog. I have never held back some emotion or raw feeling I have gone through in order to spare my feelings. I have in private conversations, shared really personal details of events which have shaped my way of thinking and which have made me a stronger person. And when someone chooses, they can ask me almost anything they want and I will ultimately share those experiences with anyone (within reason and recollection).

So how don't you know me? You don't spend the time or energy, or you don't have the inclination to get to know me, or to allow me to get to know you. In order for someone to share intimate moments (no, I am not talking about sexual intimacy), someone has to give and take in real conversation about how life is viewed. You have to share your heart, in order to find someone who shares your commonalities in beliefs or prospective dreams for the future. You have to give the opportunity for disappointment when you hear truths and you have to continue to trust, learn to give, and learn most importantly to forgive wrongs.

You have to be able to let someone know you and have the willingness to know that person beyond what you would expect, because the unexpected will have to be dealt with in your own way of thinking. Especially if something someone believes is contrary to your own beliefs or convictions. How do you as a political Republican find commonality with a political Democrat? Or how do you as a follower of the Jewish faith, fall in love with someone who is a Lutheran Christian? How can one who is fully 40 years old, with the heart of a 20 year old find common sense in falling in love with someone half his age? But all of these things happen, and they happen in the most unique circumstances. But without communication which is dependent on the other's giving of themselves, there is no growth. Relationships become stagnant or worse, break apart dramatically.

How don't you know me? When all you have to do is ask... I will tell you whatever you want to know. But don't be afraid to share who you are with me, because I am totally interested in knowing you as well.

Perhaps you know me too well, perhaps we have more in common than you think. Perhaps we think alike, and even have the same stubbornness when we look at each other and have an argument. Yeah, I can be thick at times. But it isn't because I think I'm automatically right, more than I know that salvaging a friendship is more important to me than anything in the world.