There is a great classic movie with Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn called The Philadelphia Story. One of the scenes has a drunk Jimmy Stewart and sober Cary Grant. Something Jimmy says really stuck with me ever since I first saw it. "C.K.Dexter Haven you have unsuspected depth!" It is the perfect combination of insult and compliment. I like to be viewed like that.
So many of us have so many facets to our personalities. If someone reads my Random Thoughts blog and just looks at the clowning around then they miss the point. A few people who only know the joker have read a few of these blogs and had the unsuspected depth reaction.
However, if they see the serious side here and do not see the humor then the point is also lost. Every person that you take the time to get to know has that unsuspected depth. There are things that are pleasant surprises and other things that are not so pleasant revelations.
As I ponder how I love to surprise others with things they never suspected I discovered something about myself. That unsuspected depth reaction that I want people to have tells me that I like to have people like me for things that I keep hidden. It also tells me that I test people all the time to see if they will take the time to get to know me or just see the surface and think that's all there is. There have been many times when I have tried to distract people and test their sincerity in getting to know me by saying, "Flattery will get you everywhere. I'm shallow." Flattery means nothing to me to be honest. Words are easy. Show me your unsuspected depth then I will show you the depth that I hope is within me.
