The past is a window, but it doesn’t provide a complete view of the interior, and some things have been moved around. A person’s past behavior obviously provides some insight into who they are, but it’s not the whole picture and it’s not up-to-date. It’s also important to consider your own past—how should others judge yours?

We’ve all made some mistakes, including some we’ve gotten away with. Don’t be too quick to judge others for theirs. And don’t get carried away thinking about what’s wrong with someone—try to focus on what you like about them.