Another nice sunny day in Asheville. Phone banking to NH today for Obama, leaving Colorado aside for now. They have enough to deal with w/o injecting politics into the mix. Another Monday to start over, this is the first day of the rest of your life thinking. Thinking about trust, how hard it is to develop in some instances, and how easy in other instances. So much lack of trust in the world. Expand the circle of trust...a goal worth pursuing...

But it's not easy. It goes far beyond joining hands in a circle and singing Kumbaya. It takes time and effort and honesty and willingness. It is impeded by manipulation and deceit. It may not be possible with those who lack conscience (sociopathy), but with most people it can be done. But I am saying, it can be a painful process.

Some people don't expect the absolute truth. Some people find themselves unable to make an apology. Some people harbor paranoid thoughts and refuse to expose them to the light (James Holmes?). Some people care only about getting ahead. Some insist on thinking five steps ahead, as in chess. Some people won't slow down long enough for you to look them in the eye. Some think they are simply better than you.

Most people don't erect this kind of impenetrable barrier.

However, we all are capable of erecting such a barrier without realizing it. That's why we need at least one good friend, to get all of that crappy thinking out on the table and expose it to the light. 

And a true friend will challenge it, but gently.

And a true friends will applaud all the good in you, and affirm that you are capable of significant change.