Meanwhile Back On The Trail

I go back to the Grand Canyon mules and their blinders.
Not long ago I spoke to a woman who for years expected people to mistreat her. She didn't want to be mistreated. Nevertheless, because of mistreatment early in her life, that's what she expected. Throughout the years, she developed a logical defense. She mistreated people first thus robbing them of the chance to be cruel or rude to her. She even began delighting in her cruelty. Without realizing it, she looked for cruelty in every person she met. She wore blinders that effectively blocked her vision to kindness or even to indifference.
Eventually she may consider looking for other characteristics in the people she meets.
While she may never stop wearing blinders, she may at least shift her narrow focus to a different trail and following it she may find that people are capable of surprising and positive behaviors.
We find that for which we seek.