Are you guilty of misjudging others?

I just got a comment that made me step back for a minute.
It came in about this post here

The comment from Anon. reads:

Jules,
Thanks for this blog. Ms. Dolphay (Ms. only because she was divorced) was also my teacher, many years after she retired. She was my grandmother and taught me many things; Greek and Norse mythology and the 8 parts of speech which I can still recite by heart. I thank you for your view and being able to peek in a window on her that a 10 year old never never could have seen. I also must agree that it is those who make you work the hardest and challenge yourself that you really appreciate.

(note: I put grandmother in bold myself to aid those of you skimming)


Wow, wow, wow....

First - thank you for the comment anon.
Secondly - if you remember reading the post you might know why I cringed at first. Here was a grandchild (of this teacher that I posted about) reading my post. If you don't recall the post- you may want to go back and read it... I mentioned some unfavorable memories about this person's relative. Yes, in the end I said she really did stand out as my favorite teacher, but it was only after I said things like she resembled a troll.

I was a bit flustered and embarrased really. But, then I stopped, thought, and felt better. I was NOT saying this woman WAS a troll, or any of the other things I mentioned. I said as a Jr. Higher I THOUGHT or HEARD these things. Obviously my commentor was able to make it through the post and get my true meaning. For that I am thankful.

But interesting isn't it. The ideas or the rumors we hear about a person initially - the ones that create our thoughts on that person don't always stand up in the end. First impressions are strong, where we are at in life matters (jr. high, middle of a divorce, not yet married, poor, or rich) it matters in how we see others. Yet, it is only wrong if in the end you stick to that perception. If you start seeing through those first impressions and mis-judgings yet you continue to hold the wrong opinion on others- that is when you are wrong.

Keep an open mind, take an interest in those who are not like you or your current group of friends, step outside your comfort zone, be curious. These are the only way we won't miss out on what others have to offer us.

And yes, even teachers that we think of as "the worst" may eventually be the one you find thinking of the best. Or your best friend may end up being the girl with the dyed black hair and lip ring.

Who have you misjudged?

p.s. (thank goodness blogs don't get graded. Ms. Dolphay would be shaking her head and clicking her tongue at me as she marked up this page in bright red :)