Today, as I was on the rental car bus to the airport, 2 woman almost got into a fight. How does this happen? How do we get so worked up over little things that we treat our fellow person with anger and disrespect. I love the quote “Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”, by JM Barry. Why pick a fight or try to impose your rules on a stranger, when you have no idea what is going on in their life?
What happened:
As the rental car shuttle came to it’s stop, everyone stood up, anxious to get on their way to wherever they were going. At that moment one lady decided to become the self-appointed ediquitte monitor. As people were trying to get off the bus she pushed herself in front of a woman in the isle, physically forcing her back, and told her angrily; “Edequette is for the front people to get off first.” She then proceeded to blocked the other woman from getting her suitcase. The other woman pushed around her and huffed off the bus, glaring at the etiquette police. This self appointed shuttle departing authority then looked at me grumbling about how rude it was for this other lady to try and get off first.
Let’s consider:
Maybe the other lady was in a hurry because of some sort of delay and was in jeopardy of missing her flight. Maybe she had just received word that her grandmother had died and was traveling to get to the funeral. Perhaps she was rushing to get to her son’s hospital bed after he had been in a terrible accident. It could have been she had just been laid off at work and was taking her final trip home from the company headquarters. Maybe she was ill and traveling to receive treatment. I wonder if any of these things were true, if the angry lady would have made such a scene and attacked her in the way she did. Of course another of these things could have also been the story of the woman trying to enforce the unwritten rule of getting off the shuttle.
A wider view:
We can take this consideration and apply it to any part of our life. People in shopping centers and restaurants. Those we share our roadways with. Acquaintances, friends, and family. Even those we know well, may not share everything that is going on under the surface. Maybe they are having a crisis of self-esteem because of changes in their life. Maybe there is a secret that is stressing them and they feel they will be unloveable if they share it.
I ask you, as you go about your day and feel frustrated by the actions of others. Please try and be kinder than necessary, for everyone is fighting some sort of battle. We all have stuff going on in life. We all have emotions that we share and do not share with others. Be kind to yourself and be kind to your fellow travelers in this journey we call life.
Thank you for reading my blog today. I wish you a blessed life where you receive limitedness kindness from everyone you meet. I love you.
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Stacy Crep, Adventure Sister 