To think people can change?

[Bananaicecream123]

Bumped into a woman in town today who I probably haven’t said in 10 years. When I knew her back then she was a bit of a cow tbh, she would cause trouble within our friendship group on purpose and throw harsh comments at people without caring about how they would feel.
Now she has 3 children, recently lost both parents and generally grown up. Dh (also knew her when we were younger) said I should stay well clear after I told him I had agreed to go for a coffee with her next week and he now has the hump with me.
We were 21 the last time we saw each other and she seems to have come a long way. Today she was helping an elderly man who she didn’t know load shopping into his car which I’d something she would never have done when we were younger and she seemed really loving and attentive towards her kids. I’ve changed a lot in 10 years myself as I’m sure most people have, I know I can’t tell what kind of a person she is now just by the 15 minutes I spent talking to her earlier but surely everyone deserves a second chance, don’t they?

Of course; I am nowhere near the person I was 10 years ago. You do a huge amount of growing up and changing in your twenties.

I think it’s a real mix - some people absolutely are capable, but others aren’t. I think it depends on whether or not you have the self awareness to acknowledge your mistakes or bad behaviour and learn from them - and understanding and being accountable for any hurt you’ve caused. Unfortunately a lot of people don’t want to face that ugly part of themselves or their past, but others are and they’re the ones who tend to be able to change.

Being young is part of it too, you grow up and mature and become a better person.