Ok, this is going to seem like a lot of ideas going in a lot of different directions, so all I can say at this point is I’m trying to sort my ideas as they come. I was watching the latest episode of Deadliest Catch on the Discovery Channel last night. If you’re not familiar with the show, it follows the boats that fish in the Bering Sea for crab. The show has been going on for 6 years now and there about 4-5 boats that get filmed every season. Two of the captains from those boats had a major falling out at the beginning of the season. Last night, one of the captains tried to reconcile while the other captain wanted nothing to do with it. I don’t know the particulars of the argument and who’s right and who’s wrong, but when someone comes up to me and we’ve had a disagreement and they extend the olive branch, I have never turned them away. I felt horrible for this captain and was actually depressed for the rest of the night. You might say, “well, don’t watch the show.” And that’s all well and good for some.

But the thing of it is for me is that people are all we have. If you can’t get along with others, or you don’t make an effort, you are condeming yourself to a lonely, bitter life. I have a friend who wants nothing to do with people in general because humans are not as smart as he thinks he is. Ouch. I have another friend who asked on Facebook, “How many times must I extend the hand of peace before I become a doormat?” Every time. When you offer friendship and forgiveness, you are always the bigger person. And if someone chooses not to accept, or worse accept it then hurt you again, you have to continue making the offer. Because even if you don’t get through to the intended person, others will see what you do and reward you accordingly.