Reasonable.

There are words which I have encountered that stay with me...they guide me...they provide me with structure for the way I want to live. 

"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." 

I recently shared some good news with family and friends. They were all happy for me, with the exception of one person. Her negative comments caught me off guard. My initial reaction was to counter with some unkind words of my own. Instead, I bit my tongue and delved further into the conversation. It turns out that there was more going on. Those words were a mask for other emotions, ones that would never have been recognized without patience and the understanding that there was a situation with which she was struggling. 

Too frequently, people jump to conclusions. Too frequently, people are on the defensive. It might not be convenient or easy, but next time, give someone the benefit of the doubt.