One thing I learn about being somebody, is to not be bitter.
And when I say somebody, I don't mean just any ordinary person on the street. I mean somebody who is respected when he speaks.
I completely agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinions and should be because that is what makes a person. His beliefs, his opinions, the things he says.
But what I find most attractive in a person, is his ability to listen. To hear a different side of the story. To accept. And to appreciate the effort of the other party trying to put his ideas across.
The open-mindedness of someone who's willing to engage in a discussion with you without being rash or critical. It doesn't have to be a resounding "Yes I agree with you!" respond but a simple "Ahh.." makes the conversation so much easier and pleasant to carry on. You could, of course, rebut and argue otherwise. I think it's perfectly fine. However, the manner in which you disagree shouldn't be that of implementive and pushy. Sure, it makes you opinionated that way (and the very character of who you are bla bla bla), but the way I see it, I think it's just incredibly annoying and rude.
Of course, people have their reasons for being bitter towards certain topics (religion, sexuality, mismatched socks, how you like your cup of tea done, etc). It's cool to be different, I get that. I'm like that sometimes, and I might get overly obnoxious to a certain extent, but at the end of the day, the person engaged in that discussion with me, isn't going to change his sexual orientation for me. He isn't going to start wearing blue pants because I said I hate his green ones. He isn't going to backcomb his hair because I feel his unkempt hair is less sexy.
And I guess that's why I'm very comfortable with Sad. Our conversations tend to get quite heated (in a good way) because we always have extreme points of view on many things. But the thing about our relationship is that, we're two individuals that don't mind being engaged in any topic (try us). We can talk about anything and everything and that's what makes me love him.
I'd like to think that I'm a very open-minded person. I always have spontaneous ideas and "theories" that I definitely want to share and have an intimate discussion with someone about them, just because. Sad is there to let me know that my ideas are warped (in a very gentle way for fear he might unleash the
horribly stubborn, earth-bending beast in me haha!) but he's never one to shun my opinions away just because they don't make any sense or because they're downright insane.
I mean it's not to say all our conversations and/or discussions are nonsense or unintellectual at all, but what's important is the respect we have for each other's opinions.
You have respect for that conversation. That mixed ideals. That mutual agreement (that you two might never agree on some things). And most importantly, you have respect for that person.
It's not just about a relationship between a boyfriend and a girlfriend, but it's a relationship between anyone! Someone you just met, or someone who you've known awhile but never really had a chat with before, or maybe someone you always talk to but never really had the courage to tell them that you believe in aliens or the loch ness monster.
That conversation you have with that person will guarantee to be a great and interesting one and definitely something you'd never regret once you learn to let go of your ideals for 15 minutes.
All it takes is a little less bitterness and an open mind.
Eventually, you might just be that person everyone flocks to to engage in conversations and respect someday.
