Mar
Like Them or Not
Likes and dislikes are part of the human experience. They range from foods and weather to politics and people. Most often, people tend to dislike those things which are not pleasurable or good for them. It would be hard to find anyone who likes poison ivy, for instance.
When you look at the people in your experience, consider those you like as opposed to those you dislike. You might very well find that most of those on the “dislike list” are people who are not good for you. By disliking them, you tend to avoid their company. That minimizes contact with whatever it is that is opposed to your well-being. Of course, there are others who are liked or disliked for less substantial reasons. That is just human nature.
Disliking someone who has wronged you is natural. It is also natural that there are some folks you dislike who have never actually done you harm. In the latter case, dislike ought not be cause for animosity. It is like the wise adage which says: People can disagree without being disagreeable. Disdain alone is not justification for hostility. If a person has not done you wrong, no amount of dislike justifies doing him wrong.
Getting along with people we like is easy. Getting along with those we dislike takes some effort. Wisdom seeks to treat all fairly, whether we like them or not.
