l'instinct fondamental

Have you ever stopped and looked at your life and wondered if you'd feel the same way for the rest of it? Variations would still exist of course, but in general, you might be guaranteed to feel the same. Are we programmed to feel a certain way forever because of our outlooks on life or our genetics or our upbringing, or is there one specific condition or event in everyone's life that, if it occurs, will shake us to our cores and make us skeptical or bitter from that moment on?

I've wondered lately, what it is that makes some of us so much more inclined to live happy lives despite any hardships that pop up? I know people that aren't phased by problems, and I also know people that make problems out of things that don't matter just to have something to talk about. There is a quote that says something along the lines of "small minds discuss people, average minds discuss events, great minds discuss ideas." I discuss a lot of events and there are of course people involved, but that's where all of my ideas come from.

I was in an odd situation earlier this week, in which I had no choice but to be around a group of people that had absolutely evil things to say about practically everyone that they knew. I'm sure they had things to say about me when I walked away, mainly "Why is she so quiet? Why did she look so awkward?" It takes SO MUCH to make me feel that way, but let me tell you- I felt completely out of place. It's a disappointing realization to come to, but sometimes not having something bad to say makes me the minority.

I always have a lot to say, really. If not in person, definitely in writing. But I'd like to think I've grown out of the phase where talking about other people was the only way I felt like I could fit in. I wake up every day thankful for the life I lead and the tremendous hearts of the people in it, and that gives me no reason to talk badly about anyone. I only feel the need to talk about it here because I somehow forgot that there are people out there like that...I'm so used to the incredible people in my life that I actually forgot any other sort of person existed and was surprised when I witnessed it this week. But if it's possible for me to forget that sort of thing exists, it's definitely nothing to complain about.