I was extremely put off by the syntax when I first got started, but I was coincidentally at the same time checking out lisp and getting out of my c/c++/java/c#

I was extremely put off by the syntax when I first got started, but I was coincidentally at the same time checking out lisp and getting out of my c/c++/java/c# world (thanks school). It only takes time to get used to. And you are right, it is all about your existing habits.