I was a very bland-charactered kid in primary school: no notable talents, peculiar traits, off-the-wall behavior... the only distinguishing thing about me was I did well in classes, and in those days that was good enough to earn great respect from teachers and fellow classmates... I was elected/designated class president year after year, and had no trouble making friends with every one... everyone liked me, and I liked everyone.
This pretty much ran true through my high school years, so I was shocked one day during my senior high years to hear a guy I acquainted with at a summer camp--one of those precocious, young leader type--give me some well-meant advice: "One day you will realize there are some people who are not worth spending time on..." What kind of people was he talking about, I really couldn't get it.
Undiscriminating as my friends-making seemed to be, subconsciously, I realized later, I was readily drawn to people who I admired or possessed some personality traits I lacked I wanted to have. Friendships like these could be ephemeral when circumstances changed, or last for a life time even after the mystique of the initial attraction had disappeared.
Lincoln once said "every man over forty is responsible for his face". At age 61, I am well past the days when I blamed my character flaws on my inherited nature, or saw the "superior personality traits" in others. I am contented with who I am, finally falling in line with modern Western culture's rah-rah cry of "be what the best you can be!" 
And I found out I am not that easy-going, bland-charactered guy I thought I was. I have my quirks, likes and dislikes, just like the most peculiar people I know, that I tend more to assert than suppress as I get older.
And people are not all what they act to be. None of us has it all together, but many think or pretend they do, through analytical talking, rote recitation, always-up posture, etc.
I hold a positive attitude towards life, but I think everyone is entitled to be sad or sentimental sometimes.
I'll strive to be the best I can be, but an all-around, wholesome person, not a flat, functionality piece that modern Western culture also seems to encourage, in a world soon to abound with artificial intelligence machines anyway.
I probably won't tell a young man "not to waste your time on some people", but "pay attention to whomever you happen to be with, and no time will be wasted".
And no matter what labels or hats we happen to don in life, or what character quirks we may have, I still believe what unites us is greater than what divides us, deep down we are more alike than different, good triumphs over evil, peace on earth, good will to men.
Merry Christmas!
