Words from Dic(tionary)

Affable: (adj) friendly, good-natured or easy to talk to e.g. an affable and agreeable companion.

The most important mission for any human being at this hour in history is to fight off, with great ferocity every inclination to join the vast ranks of the perniciously cynical.

To do this, we must begin to believe that it is possible for someone to be affable, joyous, friendly and open, without setting us up to gain a handout or manipulate us into buying something from them that is broken.

What we have begun to call “street wise” or even “prudent” is chock-full of sarcasm or even indifference, which is gradually smothering a dying breed of affable souls.

Getting into an elevator two days ago, I told the gentleman next to me that I was having a good day and hoped that he was, too. What thrust forth from every pore in his being was a combination of fear, sneering, anxiety and resentment towards my overture.

Probably three years ago I would have become angry at being rebuffed for simply being outgoing. But instead, I just became quiet. There is no way to argue with coldness. In so doing, you become frigid yourself.

I will continue to cast my pearls into the marketplace of life, but will certainly follow the advice of to avoid the presence of those who “oink” instead of returning with a “How do you do?”

It is well worth the effort.

“Affable” may be the only way we have to overcome the anger that lies beneath the surface of all the frustrated dreamers.