On First Impressions..

     I believe a first impression is often how people tend to think of us, even after we've gone out of our way to prove we're not boorish, loud, incompetent, unfriendly, snobbish, or rude. It's unfair to judge someone based on first impressions, but you know as well as I, everyone does it. And I'm not just saying "everyone" in the sense that most people you know do it, or that you've had it happen to you where you've been judged prematurely. Everyone does it. The human animal is a complex miracle of evolution and social learning that somehow has managed to take one of the oldest common courtesies, not judging a book by its cover, and completely throwing it out the window in exchange for a moment of complete awareness when confronted with a new acquaintance. They will remember everything about you, from the way you talk, laugh, and dress, to what car you drive, what job you have, and what your posture is like. Don't get me wrong, I do it too. I could tell you which of an hundred strangers I would rather spend time with after meeting them all for just long enough to shake their hand and attempt to learn their first name.
     I don't mean to say that no matter what, people's opinions about you will never change. I am saying however, for better or worse, they will never forget what you were like when you first met. The up-side of that being, if you had a shaky start and your friendship improves with someone, the contrast makes you look like a great person, adapting and improving yourself for the good of all those around you. On the other side of this hypothetical and rather judgmental coin, if your relationship starts to go to pieces, the difference will make you look that much worse, even if you're just being yourself.
     What can be done you ask? Well... nothing. Not really. People are animals, it's true. No matter what, they will have instincts to drive them to do stupid or wonderful things against their better judgement. Profiling a new acquaintance, whether they be a potential mate, a potential ally, or potential enemy, is ingrained in to each and every one of us. We can act like their first go at introducing themselves went better than it did, but when it goes wrong, it goes wrong.
     My point of this rant is this: Don't try and make your first impression more impressive. Try to make yourself better. Hold yourself to a higher standard. Don't compare yourself to others, but act on your own common sense and build yourself up. This will leave a positive mental note in every new person you meet's mind. Like I said, if you fake a strong first impression, you'll lose out later, and if you make a bad one, they'll never forget it.
     Now along these lines, seeing as this is my first entry rant or "rantry", I will introduce myself. I am a 19 year-old young man, I live in my parents' home and basically bum off of them since I'm out of work (though not for lack of trying to find it). I am an artist at heart and in hand. My hobbies are drawing, cooking, writing, singing, reading, and playing games. I have been in a relationship for over 2 and a half years with my wonderful girlfriend R. (initials to maintain privacy). I'm a bit of a know it all, a bit of a joker, and a bit of a fighter (though those days are behind me). My main focus of this blog is to provide my own perspectives on things happening around me. They might be interesting and I'll let you decide whether or not they are. I'll be writing every day in the form of an open ended journal, and I would love to hear what you have to say. Any discussion, comments, or points of view (intelligent discussion is something that is fading in our world, but that's a rantry for another time) are more than welcome.
     Well, I hope I've left a good impression and I look forward to writing again tomorrow. Until then, have a nice day.