The spirit grows weary with the weight of woe in the world at large and here at home. The litany of distress and wrong-doing and cruelty and ill-will seems never-ending. It is hard to take an optimistic view of anything. Dire warnings and forbidding futures fill the commentaries here and everywhere. If I began to list the on-going horrors and looming threats this column would only end when the editor cried halt. Make your own list and you will see what I mean.
How does one find relief? Looking back over my life it comes home to me how much depends on meeting and knowing people whose make-up includes an invincible optimism, lightness of spirit, goodwill and what one can only call sweetness of nature.
I am not speaking of charisma. There is something overwhelming about a charismatic person, something elemental, commanding and demanding rapt attention. Charisma is a mystifying and awful gift. The persona of a charismatic person fills any place he or she goes. Charisma enlarges the significance of any moment spent where it is engaged. Charisma brings out passion and complete devotion in other people and that can be good or bad.