Just the way I am?

I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday about how angry I was with myself in allowing myself to believe in people before they have proven themselves worthy. She pointed out something to me that I had not previously considered. Both she and I have come from similar pasts – we’ve both visited places of addiction; we’ve both done a lot of things we regret. I won’t say that I was a bad person during these times (nor was she – but this is a story about me so…), but I was young and misguided; I was selfish, and immature, and most of my actions were dictated by low self-confidence and absolutely no self-esteem. And because I know first hand that people are capable of changing – of finding their path and making a good life for themselves, of "growing up", I tend to automatically believe that the people in my life are capable of the same (especially those from my past). Unfortunately, I have been repeatedly disappointed because the faith and trust that I automatically put in people. Maybe someday I’ll learn to be more cautious, but it’s a difficult thing to do when it’s simply part of my nature.