Always hope for the best in people.

Will Rogers (Nov. 1879 – Aug. 1935)

The late Will Rogers had a saying, "I never met a man I didn't like." He willingly saw the best in everyone around him, despite their obvious flaws. Will Rogers was famous for many things, but this is the one aspect most people remember. Why is that? Despite reality (and our own despicability), we deeply want people to see us at our best.

I think we crave encouragement, particularly how we can be better than we are. People who see us for the best reinforce this idea. It's very alluring, especially since it's not impossibly distant. We want to be good (well, most of us anyway), and fail over and over and over. Yet, when we meet someone like Will Rogers, we're raised up, given a few puffs of fresh air, and get on with things. It's refreshing. Even better is having a friend who sees the best and ignores the rest--that's true friendship!

Sure, not everyone measures up to the idea, but isn't that the point? When someone encourages you by ignoring the bad and willingly liking you despite it all, they're providing an optimistic appraisal of your qualities. I think we need more of that. Will Rogers had it right. If more of us decided to like the people around us, there'd be less conflict at work and in our daily lives. Sure, it's unrealistic, but I think optimism is a far better way to live than pessimism. Try it. See the good in someone, even when they disappoint you.

- M