Married with children
We often have a preconception of how a person should be prior to meeting them, and if they don’t follow our thinking to the letter, we dismiss any notion of befriending them. What about your significant other? Sometimes, when I meet couples, I ask them how they meet and about their first impressions of each other. I usually get, ‘When I first her, I couldn’t stand her, or I told him do not call me, and stay out of my life.’ Then I added, "Well, what happened?" One woman said, "‘A few weeks passed by after I dissed him, and we ran into each other by accident and just started talking. This time, I got a different vibe. So, I asked him to go with me to the movies that same day.’ Ask you friends when they met and what was their first impressions of their special someone. Who would you have ended up with had you not given your spouse a second chance? What about your children. Only the person you married could have given you "those" children.
Speaking of children, we certainly have to give them second chances. We say that, but how many parents do we know who think their children should be perfect, and don’t allow room for mistakes? When we fail, we grow, when we fall, we get up! There has to be room for second chances. All parents need to exercise patience, extreme patience when it comes to dealing with their children. Remember, we’re someone’s children too, and second chances kept us on the straight and narrow. With no second chances, how can you accurately determine the level of your children’s comprehension. Then you might stunt the growth of their interpersonally skills and discourage them from trying. You can even turn their shortcomings into teachable moments. No celebrated singer, home run king, million dollar author, gold medalist, or boxing champion has come through this life without a second chance.
Emotional relationships
If you are the person who is asked for a second chance, this can be difficult especially if you’ve been physically harmed or emotionally scarred during a heated tirade. Having an emotional connection to the abusing person makes it that much harder to remove yourself and move on to greener pastures. The deciding factors can be time invested or even more significant, when children are involved.
Chance meetings
When we encounter new professional contacts, new co-workers, or potentially new friends, keep in mind that whatever happened prior to this meeting is still bouncing around in this person’s head and rapidly reshaping their disposition. On the other hand, it could be you who deserves a second chance. Would you give yourself a second chance under the same conditions?
What about first impressions,You know what "they" say, ‘You only get one chance to make a first impression,’" who made that phrase the gospel? That sounds like strike one, you’re out! How much can you tell by a first encounter? When bells don’t ring and the sirens don’t go off, for some reason, we become less interested and move on, not realizing we just passed up a great person or possible best friend. Any number of things could have an adverse effect on a person’s outlook for that day. However, we seldom take those things into account whenever we meet someone for the first time.
When it comes to social settings or new relationships, open your minds and understand, that timing is everything, it is not the place nor the time but the mindset of both parties. So, open your heart and let life happen, and be receptive to second chances.
Think about this…just where would "you" be…without them.
