First Impressions!

Being a Coast Guard wife for over 20 years, I have met a lot of people. First impressions, for me, are key. When I met my friend Jan, I knew right away we were going to be life long friends. I guess it was her whole demeanor. She is the kindest person I have ever met. She would give you the shirt off her back if you asked her. I am so fortunate to have her and her family in my life. I have been fortunate like this throughout our military career. I keep in touch with most of the people we have met throughout these past 20 years. It does, at times get difficult with all of them transferring every few years. Moving from Station to Station you hope to find people that would even measure up to the ones you have met before. You move to a new location and pray that there is even one or two that will now be your new “best” friend. I am again fortunate to have found one gal here in Kodiak that has fit that bill at least until they transfer next spring. Unfortunately, I have also recently met a person that has just rubbed me the wrong way. I am sure that deep down this person is not as shallow as she portrays herself to be. At least I truly hope she isn't. My outlook on things is rather simple. If you want to be my friend, be yourself. You don't have to come off as if you are so much better than the rest of us. You have no idea where I have come from, what I have done in my life, or even who I have met. I certainly hope that my first impression of this person is wrong. I am no better than anyone else, I believe in giving everybody a chance because you never know in this world where you are going to end up. First impressions tell me right away if I want to continue toward a friendship. I want to try and be this person’s friend, but each time we meet, she usually says something that solidifies the "first impression" of not wanting to have anything to do with her. Being the person I am, I am willing to look past her unsavory behavior in the hopes that she sees that we are all equal.