Getting to know somebody

I've often wondered about why we never take the time to get to know others. Is it because we are to afraid? Busy? Mean? Or just don't want to? I don't know about you but most the time it's a mix of these reasons (and maybe more) for me. I've been hurt so many times in my life by others, I tend to not get to know somebody new. I may feel comfortable in my own skin about it, but the consequence for me is I'll never know anything special about the person. Unfortunately a lot of people do this in the world. I have decided to try and learn something about another person more often. I hope we all try to do this in our lives. You could meet your next best friend or lover. You never know...