Are you a good judge of character? – asks the daily writing prompt. So I took the bait.

I feel I’m a good judge of character but I’ve also made a few mistakes over time. To be a good judge it’s good to have information so asking questions, the right ones, and judging the truthfulness behind them helps determine character. But also do their actions align with their words?

Sometimes though you don’t have those opportunities to get more info and you have to pick up on subtle things. Will someone look you in the eye when talking? What company are they keeping? Is the inflection in their voice matching what they are saying?

Lots of times we have to make snap judgments about character. But be careful because impressions can be deceiving. I rode a motorcycle and I met some bikers that would scare most people, who were the nicest family men with good jobs and personalities.

I love watching a smart dog determine someone’s character quickly.

Now that I’m retiring I think about the people I’ve aligned myself with over my career and I think I’ve made some excellent character choices looking back. People that have your back. That will stand side by side and support a position/action/person in the face of pressure. People that are honest and working towards the success of all.

In my personal life, I’ve got a lot of friends with great characters and some that are just characters. I’ve been very lucky in these personal choices. They have been a source of so much enjoyment in my life but also been there when I’ve struggled.

It helps if you have character, it aids you in being a good judge of it.