Sensitivity is an often-overlooked trait that deserves more appreciation than it gets. It's not enough to be conscious of the feelings of other people, you need to be aware of your own. Remember, you've got to be sensitive to yourself as well.

The very idea of sensitivity seems like it may contradict a Western hero. However, when he starred in The Rifleman, Chuck Connors wasn't concerned with making his character like every other Western star there ever was.

In an interview with The San Francisco Examiner, Connors explained that he worked with producer Jules Levy on the show's developmental process, ensuring that the emphasis was placed on the man, Lucas McCain, rather than his weapon.

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"Jules got the concept of a man living in the West with a rifle rather than a sixshooter," Connors said. "We made him a legendary figure with feet planted in reality."

Another notable difference between Lucas McCain and other Western stars is his loving relationship with his son, a characteristic that Connors was also conscious of. "We established the forgotten fact that there is such a thing as a warm relationship between father and son," Connors said. "It happens all over the world. Our background was the West. Put them together and you have The Rifleman."

Connors' efforts weren't for naught. Critics noted The Rifleman's new perspective. "I'll take this one, if only because Chuck Connors looks genuinely sorry after he shoots a bad guy...it isn't the weapon that makes this show different, it's the spirit."

Ultimately, Connors was proud of his character, as well as his work on the series. "I'm the good guy, and I hope to stay that way," he said.