Types Of Humans

You become whoever you're around. "Show me your friends and I'll show you your future" as my youth pastor used to say.

There are some people that are alright, but maybe because they're not as intellectual (or too intellectual) or fun or energetic or for some other reason, you don't feel all that different after being around them. No better, no worse. It's just alright. They're probably good people, but the reason you are with them is because they are the people with the free schedule to hang out with you.

There are people that are bad influences. Not necessarily the type who make it into a wild night of drinking and drugs at strip clubs, but maybe the ones who just aren't doing much with themselves. The ones who haven't moved on from their current job (or job position) or lifestyle, friend group, or geographical location.

There are the good people. These are the straight shooters that you've seen live out a consistent lifestyle for years. They may have been stupid in some social settings, but they're wise and down to earth. Basically just solid.

Then there are the magical (or "exceptionally good") ones. The people that fall into this group are the ones who are far too busy for you, but desire to hang out with you even after they're exhausted, and you feel the same about them. Some qualities that separate these ones from others is that they are busy working towards something and can recognize a similar desire in you, and that spurs something from inside that you don't always feel. It's a genuine longing to find out how they got to where they are, what they're working through to be in their position, and what they anticipate in the future. Along with this is the belief system that maintains their basic spiritual, emotional, and mental equilibrium.

There are people in between, too. I'm less inclined to hang out with the "good" category because honestly, it's a peer-to-peer interaction. I might pick up on something new, but usually, they're consistent enough that I'm really not missing out on much if I only see them once in a blue moon. The ones I try hardest to meet with are the exceptionally good. They're above your level, or at least at a similar point of striving towards their goal that you experience mutual benefits by being around one another. I only know a few of these right now, and the thing is, they can drop down from exceptionally good pretty quickly. It's not necessarily that they become bad, just not nearly as good as they were, settling for mediocrity on some points, molding themselves into an average being.

Because the state of a human can change so quickly (me or them), I try hard to hang out with magical people as often as possible. They may not be so magical when you see them again. Or you may not be. Some of my oldest and best friends have compromised on enough moral and ethical issues that I no longer look forward to hang out with them. I have to fight the feeling of being uncomfortable or even a little disgusted with them.