Chris Hardie's Weblog

When we encounter new people in our lives and consider what they might have to bring to us and what we might have to bring to them, we have to decide how we're going to evaluate who they really are - do we look at their current statements and actions and opinions, or do we look at the statements, actions and opinions from their past? Or something in between?

Some of the most warm and genuine people I know are those who look deeply and decide that they want to be connected to you because of who you are right now. They may learn later about your past and how you got here, but nothing is as important in their consideration as how you live your life right now.

How do you figure out how much you care about someone's past compared to their present life and intended future? How do you decide what makes someone a person you want to get to know better?