Is it too late to improve my character?

@slarson14
Good morning @slarson14,
I believe it is a healthy exercise to speak what one feels is correct or truthful in most cases: We are who we are and all the stimuli out there can effect how we feel about many different topics. I find that when I am stimulated to inject my opinion regarding any topic, I always think about what to say a bit deeper prior to spurting my words out quickly. You mentioned "thin skinned people" and that you may have hurt their feelings in someway may be a sign from them that they have a different viewpoint then you might have expressed and this is OK. We're all human and regardless how thin or thick our skin is, for me personnaly, I feel by pausing before replying or speaking to anyone, may project a calmer and less offensive attitude about any discussion material.
Therefore, by listening a bit longer to what others are discussing, when one is asked how do they feel about the subject matter, they may find themselves expressing what they actually are feeling, but with less assertiveness and subsequently, more acceptaable responses are seen as consideration for others.
You sound like a sensitive individual and I believe that your writing expresses that you do care about others and maybe, in some situations you may have had your feelings hurt and are protective about who you really are.
I appreciated your openness in your writing and I think it contributes to heightening awareness when involved in any diaglogue.
Thnks again and best to you in the New Year.
Jofree

to @edsutton ... Always interesting ideas, Ed. Maybe a desire to improve one's character is enough, cuz it implies you're trying. People who reeeely need improvement think they're already just fine, it seems, and we don't have to look far to find glaring examples. What helps me is some Buddhisty readings and vipassana meditations, reading actual books from the library (so much good stuff), watching movies (Roger Ebert pointed out that they are empathy machines) about challenging stuff (like "I'm Still Here"), hanging out with positive people (you gotta accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative) and being grateful for what I still have. My mind is a very malleable place, and it responds to whatever is being fed it, so I try to feed it good stuff like lots and lots of music, mostly classical golden oldies, pretty much all day long (keeps me calm) and for a real mood lift, Brazilian! The news sparingly because I want to know the facts, and Colbert or Kimmel for a saner take on politics. A great teacher told us yesterday in a New Year morning meditation that in her fifty years of teaching (and learning) the most important message is: "Look around you; notice the suffering of others." Helps if you live in a large urban city; there's a lot of it going on here in Chicago. I do enjoy reading the perspective of others on this forum; many wise people here. I've been dealing with long Covid, a real trip, but ... as that teacher would say: "I couldn't be better!" -- implying that if I could, I would. Still working on it... and I'm older than dirt!