Sometimes remaining mentally healthy means having a greater understanding of other peoples behavioral differences. If you laugh with people, not at them, living with your crazy crap and theirs can lift you up instead of causing unnecessary friction.
For instance, I have a friend who sometimes spaces out when asked a question. Rather than answering, he will simply remain silent, or walk away. It can be rather disconcerting to the person who asked the question.
He's not a rude person. He's just single focus like me. I don't have his habit, but I totally understand it. When his mind is fully focused on one thing, that's all he can think about.
So, a lot of the time, when he does this, people who don't know him well, will find his behavior insulting. In fact, he has had this habit since he was a small child. It has nothing to do with rudeness, inconsideration, or anything of the kind. He's just thinking so hard about something, that he has no room in his brain to process anything else. He's not a multi-tasker at all.
When he was a child, this habit was so bad that his parents ended up taking him to have his hearing tested. Then, they thought maybe there was a mental issue. He laughs about it sometimes, now and his habit has gotten better. He can force himself out of his zone sometimes and sometimes not.
Have you ever encountered someone who doesn't answer your direct questions or seems to ignore your end of a conversation? Go easy on them. Sure, they could be rude. On the other hand, maybe they're like my friend.
We all have our little quirks don't we? That's what makes us individuals. Personally, I find my friend's little “hearing” problem somewhat endearing. It makes him who he is and that makes me smile.
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