Well, I believe people are quite similar to music. There are so many genres of people. You prefer different companies in different moods. There are a couple of people who are your all time favourites. And some who you try and try and try to like to just fit in or because they are considered cool, liked by everyone else or are popular. But can never comprehend them. Like Hard Rock for me.
Similarly, there are people whom you don't like the first time you meet them. But overtime, they grow on you. You might have disregarded them at first or you might have found them easy to ignore or jarring for the first couple of instances, but when you interact with them more, you begin to find layers in them which are interesting, intellectual and beautifully woven.
It happens a lot to me at work. It is that dormant animal instinct which gets alert when you feel there is danger in your territory. Any new colleague, new team member, new senior is looked at with distaste and negative opinions are formed without much solid base. Just like a previously unsuccessful music director's new music. You already have formed a not so good opinion about it. And might make forced jokes about the lyrics or weird choice of music instruments. I know I do. And that is denial.
But it should be considered natural, I guess. And it is ok. If you eventually realise the real nature of the music. Or the person. Give them the appreciation they deserve. Let them grow on you. So I make it a point to never dismiss any song or person in the first instant. I might form opinions. But I try and not to engrave them on a stone tablet or anything. I leave scope to alter it. And I am often pleasantly surprised.
All we need to do is listen carefully. To both music and people. And we'll be surprised by our acquired eclectic and amazing collection of music and friends.
