Handshakes and Forgivenesses

Hello, my name is Gerardo San Diego. Forgive me for not bullshitting you because it’s been a while since I’ve practiced.

Forgive me for living in moderation. I have no reason to numb myself with excess.

I will, more likely, be a boring long-term friend than an exciting short-term buddy.

When we first meet, forgive me for asking you questions like this:

• Which would you sacrifice first: love, knowledge, or happiness?
• Which would you accept last: loneliness, ignorance, or sadness?
• If I had information that I think would be beneficial to your mental and/or physical health, but this information would reduce the amount of fun that you’re currently having, would you like me to tell you the information?

Because I myself am not self-destructive, I will not ask you to participate in self-destructive activities. Because I am not lonely in my hobbies, I will not expect you to participate in my hobbies.

Because I have high self-esteem, I will filter your comments in a positive, constructive way unless you specify otherwise.

Forgive me for steering you to talk about issues and ideas instead of people and things.

If you see me standing alone at a party, there’s a good chance that no one is discussing issues or ideas, and I am deciding whether or not I should leave.

I will not hesitate to pass judgment on others and their actions, just as I’m constantly passing judgment on myself and my own actions, just as I’m constantly evaluating myself and my own actions, just as the universe is constantly affected by myself and my own actions, just as the universe never stops being affected by myself and my own actions.

I am not afraid to be unpopular.

I will, from time to time, admit that my ego has reared its ugly head, and that I was unbalanced at that moment and acted accordingly. I will be loud about this so that I will be less likely to do it next time.

Your careful examination of the world is worth more to me than a thousand dollars.

Your careful examination of yourself is worth more to me than a million dollars.

Your encouragement of me to carefully examine my own self is invaluable.