I Like Who I Like

What is with people?  I realize it’s a question that can be asked by anyone, about anyone who doesn’t do or think like us, but… what is with people? 

Let me start by telling you that in general I don’t like most people.  I’m not proud of it and I wish I was able to like more people, but I’ve stopped wrestling with it and have accepted it.  I am who I am.  I don’t wish anyone any harm.  I hope most everyone leads a joy filled prosperous life.  But if I don’t share any common interests with someone, or I don’t like someones personality than why would I purposely want to spend time with that person?  Would you? 

Check out this little family problem that I’m currently experiencing.  My sister-in-law just got engaged.  Her future husband is a good guy.  He’s a good man.  He works hard, he’s a good dad to his young son, he has good intentions and I think will make a great husband for my wife’s sister.  As far as I know he’s a strong, stable, honest man of integrity.  I don’t like him.  Maybe it’d be best said that I don’t like certain things about him.  He’s one of these guys who; everything he has, everything he’s done (which apparently is everything) and everywhere he’s been (which apparently is everywhere) is better than you.  He’s one of these guys that tries to talk you into things.  I’m a grown man of reasonable intelligence, I know what I want, I know where I want to go.  If I say no, I don’t want my mind changed, I don’t want to be talked into it. Is anyone with me on this?  It’s annoying! 

So here is where I got plunged into this dilemma more suited for an 11th grader.  My wife recently had a day out with her sister and proceeded to inform her that I don’t like her future husband.  I owe her a big debt of gratitude for that.  She’s honest to a fault, obviously.  My sister-in-law promptly runs to tell not only her fiance but my mother-in-law.  My mother-in-law calls my wife to tell us that me and my future brother-in-law have to talk and clear the air.  Clear the air about what?  I’m not offended.  He didn’t do anything to me.  I’m not mad at him, I just don’t like him. 

I realize everyone just wants to live in Nirvana (the state of perfect peace not the rock band).  I’ve also been told that everyone has had these “pie in the sky” ideas that me and this guy would be close and spend a lot of time together.  Ain’t gonna happen.  I didn’t know of these aspirations, and I don’t mean to upset the apple cart, but I like who I like.  As my wife is famous for saying, “it is what it is.”

So with all this being said, what is wrong with how I feel?  It’s a fact of life, people don’t like certain people.  I’ll be at all family functions and be cordial, but I won’t be calling this guy or sitting down over a beer to discuss my hopes, dreams and innermost feelings. 

I understand that there must be people out there who don’t like me, as hard to believe as that might be, but I accept it and I move on.  I encourage you to let people like who they like and hopefully your spouse will know that some things are best left unsaid.