In a world of skeptics and pessimists, I tend to be an optimist who tries to see the best in people before I judge them and think the worst of them.

As I sat at home Monday, I caught an episode of “The Andy Griffith Show” in which a “former” moonshiner was selected to entertain at a town function because his voice was incredible. Sheriff Andy Taylor was the one who suggested he audition, and then when he was chosen, the mayor and a lady of the elite upper class both chastised Andy for sending him to the audition.

As the man walked on stage donned in bib overalls, the mayor was fuming, but not long after he began singing, the mayor and the lady were hushed by compliments from those around them on the choice.

Situations such as these happen on a daily basis all around us. And it doesn’t just happen to those who are the “moonshiners” of our community, but also to those who are regular everyday people and those who are in that more wealthy crowd.

There are people who would like to think that extremely wealthy people only get their money by doing criminal things. Maybe it’s just jealousy, or maybe it’s just these people always think everyone has an ulterior motive to get their own way.

Maybe I should be skeptical more often, but I’d rather think that everyone has some bit of good in them, that they couldn’t really be involved in something bad, and if they are, I don’t believe until I see it.

It’s ironic how we live in a country where the motto is “innocent until proven guilty,” but most people treat others like it is “guilty until proven innocent.”

The way some people act reminds me more of the Salem witch hunts, when people would just accuse whomever they thought might be a witch, then the person pretty much faced a sentence of burning at the stake, the only true way to rid a witch of its soul, or at least that’s what they believed.

Why in this day and age can someone not just be a good saver of money who then invests that money, or builds a nice house or goes on a world tour vacation?

I believe some people are just financially savvy. I just wish I could learn from them the tricks of the trade. I can’t even understand what my IRA stock report says. It’s totally different from the calculus I aced in college.

Next time you look at someone and start thinking, I bet this person ... this and that, stop yourself and think maybe that person is judging you just the same. Would you want someone to think the worst of you before they even had a chance to get to know you? I sure wouldn’t.

Wendy Byerly Wood is the associate editor of The Mount Airy News. She can be reached at wbyerly-wood@mtairynews.com or 719-1923.