Is it too late to improve my character?

Ed thanks for your enlightenment. It is now another way for me to work on a better way to get along in this world. It is so fun for me to discover better ways to live in this world. I feel as though I am becoming so wise. And that helps me to feel useful in my life. Living alone and starting to love myself and my new and unique life is becoming comfortable and serene.

Never thought that would be me. This site has helped me become the way I am today. Thank you MAYOconnect

Good idea! It's never too late to improve one's self! Even if you are 79 like I am! Katherine Hepburn was a good actress and always had something interesting to say especially when she was in a movie with John Wayne! There were several movies with her and John Wayne. My late husband watched every John Wayne movie at least 20 times each but his favorites were the ones with Katherine Hepburn in them. There was one where she was very religious and kept complaining about John Wayne's drinking. He kept drinking anyway! They ended up being good friends at the end of the movie.
PML

Ed, I think I can help. This helped me when I thought I was a grump!

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (ESV). { Bible - English Standard Version}

Great writing here. I smiled several times. I especially like the idea of mulling something over for 50 years.

Enjoyable topic to think about. I experience character as fixed, despite my attempts to change it over 71+ years. I gave that up a while ago and instead decided to focus on my virtues while corralling my faults (rather than eradicating them). For example, I can be rude on a line, or a phone call. I blame being born in Manhattan where brusque quick interactions are considered polite as opposed to time wasting niceties. This has not gone over well in the rest of the country! So I accept I may be rude, but instead focus on expanding my natural friendliness. This has mostly improved things! That is, instead of telling myself "don't be rude" I tell myself to let out my genuine interest and friendliness. That said, I agree we are never too old to be our better selves as often as possible. Thanks!

I was just telling my spouse when I was a kid people would ask me all the time, "Do you ever talk."
Well most of the time I was too afraid to talk for fear of being verbally attacked by my dad.
A couple of days ago I told my spouse that I can't stop talking to people now because I enjoy it so much. I smile at them, I say hi to a certain server at a restaurant I go to, I just chit chat. And I love it!!!!!🤓 So I feel like a new person. One positive outcome from having cancer. Sometimes my brother says I talk too much!!

Sometimes something happens to you that forces a character change on you. And sometimes you wake up one day and decide to be different. I am not saying better (a value judgement) just different. Once you kicked the neighbor's dog because it tried to nip you. Now you talk to the dog and it sits and listens. I believe anyone can change their character at any time. I would expect at least one other person will appreciate the change!

@captboat I love that verse, one of my favorites. I need to have it tattooed on my forearm. lol.

I think personality is a genetic trait.

What you make out of the cards you are dealt in this life is what your character is composed of - the free will - if you will.

I tend to tell it like it looks to me, but thin skinned people get their feelings hurt and decide not to "like" me. Then they tend to make a judgement call: thinking I am a bad person just because I don't soft soap what I say.

I wish I was better at what I call "soft soaping" so as to not hurt people's feelings. But that feels fake and non-ingenuous if you will?

I don't know.

@slarson14
One of the “Fruits of the Spirit” is kindness. God’s kindness saved us, our kindness reflects Him.