“When people show you who they are, believe them the first time"

As we get older, the blinkers come off, yes?

I know for a fact my view of the world used to be far, far more rose-coloured than it is today.

Disillusionment, disappointment, thinking people will always act with integrity. But sometimes, they don't.

And so, this quote is perfect for me to read right now:

“When people show you who they are, believe them the first time." Maya Angelou.

Amen. I would even apply this to people you have been friends with a long time. If things change markedly and you don't quite know why [or maybe you do], and it's obvious they don't want to hang with you so much, especially when the going gets tough... it's time to take a backseat for a bit. Leave things to run their course for a while... and see where the relationship goes.

The quote above is from Maya Angelou.

But I love what Oprah added to it:

"Remember this because it will happen many times in your life. When people show you who they are the first time believe them. Not the 29th. time. When a man doesn't call you back the first time, when you are mistreated the first time, when someone shows you lack of integrity or dishonesty the first time, know that this will be followed many many other times, that will some point in life come back to haunt or hurt you. Live your life in truth. Don't pretend to be someone your not. You will survive anything if you live your life from the point of view of truth.”