I sometimes wonder whether I am a pessimist or a realist. I think it could be argued the line between the two are so blurred at the moment that they have become interchangeable.

One thing that is certain, though, is that I’ve never been one to wear rose-colored glasses. It’s just not my style. Whether because of genetics, surroundings or watching too much bad football, I tend to view things as they are without the need to sugar-coat things.

As they say, let the cards fall where they may.

However, every now and then I manage to convince myself that we’re all just trying to get one step ahead of one another; we live in a cutthroat world where it’s every man and woman for themselves.

I know, it’s not a good way going about life. But all too often I find myself turning on the news and seeing one senseless crime being committed after another. It seems that drugs continue to overtake cities, and gun violence becoming the norm, if it hasn’t already.

It’s hard to find some redeeming qualities on a consistent basis these days.

Yet it was an incident last week while walking to work that left me questioning my natural born pessimism toward humanity. I had a letter in my pocket I planned to drop in the mail — it was a bill so I wasn’t exactly hopping with enthusiasm.

It wasn’t until I reached the mailbox somewhere on Fourth Street downtown that I realized the letter was gone. I searched every pocket, but somehow the envelope fell during my trek. I retraced my steps in search for anything bright white on the ground.

It was then I saw a guy, who was about a block away, bend over and pick up an envelope from the group. My envelope, I was certain.

I picked up my pace and crossed the street not long after he did. All the while I saw him repeatedly look down into his hands, almost as if he was studying what he had.

Thoughts began racing in my head. Was he going to open the letter and steal the check? Can you even cash a check made out for utilities?

The guy was moving pretty quickly, so much so that I had to speed-walk just to get behind him as he reached Sixth Street. As he got there I was certain I saw him opening the letter, which then had adrenaline pumping through my body.

Fight or flight kicked in at that moment. I just saw someone open my mail and certain they were going to steal my check. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do other than confront him, rip the letter from his hands and walk away. I figured I might as well tell him off while I was at it.

I got within two steps of him from behind when I said in a voice louder than I had intended, “Hey, is that my letter?”

The guy, who clearly hadn’t noticed me coming, quickly turned around — revealing that he had indeed found my mail.

Except he hadn’t opened it.

In fact, without missing a beat, the stranger said, “Yeah, I just found it on the ground and was gonna put it in the mail.” He turned to gesture toward a mail box near the intersection of Sixth and Prendergast.

I mumbled some sort of thanks under my breath and took the letter back. Honest to God, the guy then did that quick pat-on-the-shoulder thing I’ve only seen in movies while uttering a friendly “Hey, have a good one.”

If for some reason I had salt in an open wound, this guy would have found a way to get it out. That’s how backwards everything felt.

By that point even my fight or flight instincts didn’t know what just happened. As I continued my walk to work my heart seem to beat right out of my chest, something I can’t recall happening in a long time.

I eventually looked at the sealed envelope, wet from having landed in a puddle of melted snow. I slid it into the breast pocket of my jacket and went on my way.

Looking back now I realize it was a minor event in the grand scheme of things. Yet for someone who doesn’t always see the best in people, I was surprised by this random act of kindness.

And while the chances of this event changing my pessimistic ways are slim, it does remind me that there are good people out there.

If you happen to come across this column, stranger, I want to make sure I give you a proper thank you now that the “dust has settled” between us.

Thank you.

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