Can you really know anybody?

Hi Razz. As always, I appreciate your thought processes. Can we know ourselves? I believe so - deep down - even though we might at times try to convince ourselves we are not what we know we are. I know I am not the person I was 50 years ago, or 20 years ago, or even 10 years ago. We change. Our circumstances change and sometimes we change to suit them. We change in many ways, but as a general rule, our core values remain the same. Does our concept of other people change? Yes. Sometimes we only see the facade. Sometimes the person changes. Sometimes we never see the "real" person, but the longer a friendship/relationship lasts, the more likely we are to see beyond the facade. Can we really know someone? Yes, I believe we can - in time. I do not believe we can immediately know a person. For instance, I do not believe in the so-called "love at first sight" simply because it takes time - a lot of time - to truly love a person. Attraction at first sight is very real, but the main ingredients of love - respect, honour, friendship, self-giving etc - are not immediate. They take time. Friendship - true friendship - also takes time to develop, but I do believe we can reach the place where we can truly know and appreciate others. As one who has now been very happily married for 50 years, I think I can say with absolute confidence that neither my hubby nor myself are ever surprised at what the other does or says. In fact, we could almost write the script for each other and there would be no variance. I sincerely hope that this discussion wasn't generated by a disappointment in a friend.

Glad you brought this up! Yes you can know someone, if they are as close as family and you have known them for quite a while! But knowing ourselves is a different thing, It seems like an unknown question and seems quite impossible to answer if asked to yourself. - Fry