If Only Clyde Were Real

Yesterday I felt taken advantage of. Wouldn't be the first time and it probably won't be the last. Which led me to (besides anger, which seems to be a new emotion to me) thinking about honesty and how hard it is to come by.

With me, what you see is what you get. For the most part. Yes, like everyone else I'm "like an onion" and there's always more levels to peel away. However, none of my levels are fake. I try to "do unto others" and live by the golden rule. I don't try to hurt anyone and I certainly try to give everyone the respect I would like. Not that I'm perfect and not that I've never hurt anyone but I really do try to do right by people.

Sometimes, though, living this way makes me want to scream. Why does it seem I'm the only one who goes about life this way? While I know that statement is an overgeneralization, it's rather frustrating to go through life knowing this is how I do and expecting others to do the same. Someone recently told me that I can be a bit "utopian". I just believe that everyone has better in them than what they're showing.

To sum it up:

From the Tori Amos CD jacket (American Doll Posse), I want to introduce you to Clyde... I read this and realized this is a big part of who I am...

All works of art start as potential. Similarly, all relationships start as potential. When I meet a person I try and see not their mask, with it’s defenses, but what’s underneath. I get accused of refusing to acknowledge who a person is choosing to be right now. When that person is arrogant or rude or selfish then my friends say, "Clyde!!!!!! THIS is what this LOSER is about." But I say, "Hold on people, this is only what this person THINKS they are about." So this so called Loser person is confused. But if no one sees their potential then they may not ever see it themselves and that would be tragic.